Trafford Council is progressing the purchase of the former Loreto Prep School site in Dunham Road, Altrincham, to enable North Cestrian School to expand.
The move would create up to 300 more secondary school places – two more classes in each year group at the academy.
The independent Loreto Prep closed in July 2023, with its trustees, the Loreto Sisters, stating it was no longer financially viable. The Council is now set to buy the three-acre site with acquisition going ahead subject to due diligence.
The Council’s Executive Committee agreed to the expansion plan, set to be funded by a capital grant from the Department for Education, back in Spring 2024. It is subject to future planning permissions.
The aim is to create more school places to meet rising demand in the area and a timetable for the delivery of the project will be set out in due course.
Cllr Karina Carter, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Babies, Children and Young People, said:
“I am pleased that we are progressing with our intention to ultimately provide more school places for families in Altrincham. An early step in this process is to acquire the necessary land for expansion and negotiations are moving forward.”