NEW sports pitches, nine extra classrooms, a bigger playground and a new hall are just some of the facilities pupils could benefit from if a Portishead school is expanded.

North Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to St Peter’s Primary School in Halletts Way, which would increase its capacity from 450 to 630.

Residents are now being invited to have their say about the option for new buildings, transport improvements, admission arrangements and how the council can work with the school to ensure standards of education do not suffer if the proposals go ahead.

Sally Varley, who is leading the consultation, said: “The council is committed to providing extra permanent school places in the town from September 2014. Our aim is to improve the learning environment for new and existing pupils and create a new entrance to the site.”

In a letter to parents, school governors say they have not made a decision on whether or not to support the expansion and will not do so until the end of the first stage of the consultation process.

The letter also says the children will be the governors’ top priority and that throughout the process they will work to maintain and strengthen St Peter’s Primary School so it continues to be a fantastic school for children, staff, families and the community.

The expansion could help alleviate some of the current issues faced by the school with the quality and size of its existing learning infrastructure.

The school currently holds 30 more pupils than it was designed for after being instructed to take the extra pupils in 2011 to help overcome a shortage of reception places in the town.

Two public meetings have been arranged to give people the chance to ask questions and have their say on the new plans.

These will take place on January 30 at The Folk Hall in High Street at 7.30pm and at the Methodist Church in High Street on February 1 at 9.30am.

Details of the plans can be found on the North Somerset Council Econsult website at http://consult.n-somerset.gov.uk