SOUTHEND needs two new secondary schools, according to the Department of Education, but Southend Council has no plans to build them.

The decision could leave the borough short of 1,265 secondary school places.

Instead the council will continue with its plans to expand seven schools.

The latest forecast from the Department of Education suggests in 2023/24 an estimated 16,622 spaces will be needed.

This is a rise of 2,405 places - or 17 per cent - on the 14,217 in 2016/17.

Southend Council is only planning for 1,150 extra places by 2023.

This will include adding 300 places to Belfairs Academy and 150 to Shoeburyness High School, St Thomas More High School, St Bernard’s High School, Eastwood High School and Chase High School. The Cecil Jones Academy will also add 100 places.

The first wave of new spaces began this month in Year Seven.

A spokesman for the council said: “These expansions will increase the available 11-16 places by 1,150 over the next five years. Our current expansion plans address all current forecast pupil numbers.

“The forecast for secondary school numbers are re-assessed twice yearly and if it is considered that further expansions are needed, they will be pursued in the most suitable format to meet the demand timelines.”

At the end of 2017, plans were scrapped for a new free school by St Laurence Park, in Eastwoodbury Lane, because the council said the existing schools could provide additional places that will fill the demand.

A spokesman for Southend Council confirmed there were no plans to review this despite the significant difference in pupil estimates in the shorter term.

However the spokesman did confirm “in the longer term all options remain open” and the council will look again at predicted numbers in the future.

It is not yet known whether Southend Council will look at further expanding existing schools if it is wrong with its predictions regarding pupil numbers.