PROPOSALS to invest in new facilities at The Priory School in Hitchin have been given the go-ahead by county councillors.

Currently The Priory School – which can officially accept six new classes of year seven pupils each year – is said to be 'bursting at the seams'.

But on Monday (July 12) a meeting of the county council's cabinet gave the green light to further development at the Bedford Road site.

That will enable the school to increase its annual year-seven intake to seven classes, from 180 pupils a year to 210.

Although details of the building work – and the cost – were not made public at the meeting, it was reported that that the design of the buildings would 'facilitate further expansion in the future, if and when that is required'.

Presenting the report executive member for education, libraries and lifelong learning Cllr Terry Douris said: "The Priory School at Hitchin is a very popular school.

"It has consistently taken slightly over its number of pupils and it is bursting at the seams at the present time.

"It is in need of additional permanent accommodation to allow it to be brought up to a full seven form of entry school, which would match the existing arrangements for both Hitchin Boys' and Hitchin Girls' schools."

And he added: "It is something that really needs to be done for Hitchin and surrounding areas.

"And at the same time we place recognition on the work that the Priory school has done to achieve its popularity and its success."

At the meeting members of the cabinet agreed to the undisclosed capital costs associated with the expansion of The Priory School, following a discussion in private.

And they agreed to authorise education chiefs at the county council to enter into a funding agreement with the school, to enable it to permanently increase its intake to 210 pupils from September 2023.

They also agreed to the allocation of Section 106 funding – secured from developers specifically for the enlargement of the school and for other previously agreed schemes.