PLANS to increase the number of secondary school places at Vyners School, Ickenham, and Ruislip High School have been approved by Hillingdon Council.

Vyners will offer an additional 300 secondary school places, and the expansion of Ruislip High School will create 174 extra places.

The existing sports hall at Vyners will be extended to create a new two-storey teaching block of 12 classrooms, dining room, library and special educational needs suite, replacement sports hall storage and administration. A new main school entrance will also be created.

The existing multi-use games area will be replaced and an all-weather pitch will be laid on a section of the playing field.

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The new school building will increase the number of pupils at Vyners from 1,151 to 1,451, and is expected to be complete in time for September 2019.

Investment into Ruislip High School includes a three-storey extension, which will provide a main school hall, sixth-form centre, eight classrooms, media room, art studio with outside decking and space for pupils with physical disabilities.

The existing school building will be remodelled to provide a new activity studio and science laboratory and a covered external courtyard area with new trees and seating. Work there will also be complete by September 2019.

Cllr David Simmonds, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, said: "Following our extensive primary school expansion programme, the council also recognises the need to ensure every child is offered a secondary school place as close to their home as possible.”

The expansion work is part of the council's £260m primary and secondary school building programme, one of the largest in London, to meet population growth.