February 16, 2022 6.55 am This story is over 24 months old

Beacon Academy set to expand by 150 places in £3.5m rebuild

The expansion is a dramatic turnaround for the school

Beacon Academy could host an extra 150 children under plans for a £3.5 million rebuild.

The Cleethorpes academy was named on a list of schools which would get government cash to be rebuilt last year.

North East Lincolnshire Council is likely to ask for that enough money is allocated to significantly expand the campus and meet the local demand for places.

Cabinet will discuss plans to expand it from 600 to 750 spaces on Wednesday.

Between £3 million and £3.5 million will be provided by the Department of Education for the rebuild, with the council set to ask for the full amount.

The government’s School Rebuilding Programme aims to construct new buildings or major refurbishments in 500 schools across the country.

Beacon Academy, which was announced in the second wave of 50 schools, is the first in North East Lincolnshire to be confirmed.

The report which will go before Cabinet says: “Rising pupil numbers are now beginning to impact upon the local authority’s secondary provision. The Cleethorpes area of the borough requires additional pupil places.

“Beacon Academy is identified as a potential site for growth, and the local authority is looking to increase the provision by a further 150 secondary pupil places which is required to meet projected capacity over the next five years.”

The report adds that the new school facilities would enhance students’ education.

“By approving the capital spend to support the DfE with a new fit for purpose 750 place school, the pupils and staff benefit from a 21st century school environment, which increases aspirations and curriculum opportunities for pupils,” it says.

However, it warns that without expansion, North East Lincolnshire could find itself without enough school spaces.

Other schools in the area have been consulted about increased spaces, but the plans for Beacon Academy remain the priority.

The expansion is a dramatic turnaround for the school, where pupil numbers sank as low as 192 under its previous name of Holy Family Catholic Academy.

It reopened in 2017 after being taken over by the Wellspring Academy Trust.

Year 7 has now been oversubscribed for three years in a row, and its senior leadership have been recognised in national awards.