A REPORT from the Department for Education has showed that Worcestershire County Council is in a strong position to meet the growing number of school places needed across the county.

Each year the Department for Education produces a basic need scorecard for each local authority to provide a snapshot of their performance.

Data has revealed that Worcestershire has had a 10 per cent increase in primary aged pupils since 2009 and the council has been allocated a £44million grant to meet this demand.

Figures from 2014 show that the council has now provided 1,270 additional school places and plans to deliver a further 1,750 places across the county.

It is currently predicted that more housing will increase pressure on primary places but proposals are being prepared to expand existing schools or create new schools, depending on the size of housing expansions.

In addition, 98 per cent of the places provided have been at schools that Ofsted has rated good or outstanding, which is 18 per cent more than the average of good or outstanding school places provided across the country.

Councillor John Campion, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and families, said: "The council has invested significant resources to expand schools to cater for the growing number of school places across the county.

"Data has shown that we are in a good position to meet needs and with the currently completed, planned or proposed expansion projects we're not expecting any shortfall.

"It's great to see that our achievements compare so positively with the rest of the country and that the places we are providing are of high quality for the pupils across Worcestershire."