Suffolk County Council in talks to create 600 spaces between Northgate High School and Ormiston Endeavour Academy for Ipswich Garden Suburb development

As many as 600 new places could be on offer at two Ipswich schools in preparation for major housing developments.

Suffolk County Council is in talks to expand Northgate High School, in Sidegate Lane, and Ormiston Endeavour Academy, in Defoe Road.

It is expected that the new places would be available from 2027.

The plans come in response to new housing developments, including the 3,500-home Ipswich Garden Suburb, made up of the Henley Gate, Fonnereau and Red House estates.

Plans for a 600-place secondary school were originally proposed for Ipswich Garden Suburb, which since have fallen through.

The spaces would be split between both schools.

Cllr Andrew Reid, the county council’s education cabinet member for education and SEND, said the cost of the school was far above estimates – expected to cost about £30 million.

Meanwhile, the expected cost of expanding both schools would be £20 million.

Cllr Reid said it was essential that the number of school places matched the predicted number of children for every new housing development.

“This may mean we build new schools or explore the feasibility of expanding existing schools,” he continued.

“In this case, expanding Northgate and Ormiston Endeavour seems to be the best option.

“Not only is it more economical, but both schools would benefit from the funding from additional pupils - and the new students would benefit from a wider range of opportunities.”

Northgate currently has 1,260 places, while Ormiston has 900.

The county council has revealed the costs for the school would no longer be covered by financial contributions from the housing developments it would serve.

The Red House development, where the secondary school would have been built, has yet to secure planning permission.

Falling birthrates across the county, and nationally, posed risks to schools becoming financially unsustainable in the future, Cllr Reid said.

Three primary schools, proposed with Ipswich Garden Suburb, are still set to be built.

Rowena Mackie, headteacher at Northgate, said the school did not wish to comment at this time.