BOTLEY Primary School could take on more than 150 extra pupils to meet a surge in demand for places.

Oxfordshire County Council has launched a consultation on expanding the Elms Road school.

It wants to increase the number of reception year classes from one of 45 youngsters to two of 60 pupils, taking total numbers from 269 to 420.

It is the latest Oxford school looking to expand as the city’s birth rate surges and plans are made for new housing developments.

The consultation document says schools in the Botley area are “experiencing very high demand for places”.

This year, 7,724 families put in applications – 500 more than in 2011. And some six per cent – 473 – did not get any of three choices.

Botley School took 60 pupils this year but must carry out formal consultation for this to be made permanent from 2014.

The document says extra classrooms will need to be built and local authority governor Judy Roberts said this will be through an extension.

She told the Oxford Mail: “The county have excess children that they don’t have places for and we have been asked several times to find places for the children.”

Plans for 192 homes off Cumnor Hill – for which work has started – and for homes at Lime Road and Tilbury Lane will boost demand, she said.

She acknowledged there would be concerns from residents about extra traffic in the cul-de-sac, which includes a doctors’ surgery.

A turning circle could make the flow of traffic easier, she said, adding: “Everyone is aware there is a problem and nothing will go ahead without the approval from the county’s highways department.”

An Elms Road resident, who did not want to be named, said the introduction of parking charges at the nearby Seacourt Park-and- Ride had led to commuters parking in the street.

She said: “People park on double yellow lines and it can be difficult to find parking spaces. Traffic would be a further problem.”

Last year, the school merged with neighbouring Elms Road Nursery School under a single management, to the concern of some parents.

Headteacher Alison Marsh said the school had agreed to take 60 pupils on a temporary basis since September 2010.

She said it currently had spare classrooms but eventually building work would be required as extra children progressed through the school.

She said: “It will have its advantages and disadvantages. Our main concern is parents and families respond to the consultation.”

Elsewhere in Oxford, schools in Cutteslowe, Rose Hill and Wolvercote have expanded in the past two years.

And the council last month approved the expansion of Orchard Meadow Primary, Blackbird Leys, for 60 children a year from September 2013.

St Ebbe’s Primary School in Whitehouse Road, South Oxford, and Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Oxford Road, Cowley, are also bidding to expand.

Melinda Tilley, county cabinet member for education, said cash would be available for building works if the need was proven.

She said: “There is no question – you have to take the children if they turn up for school.”

As reported in yesterday’s Oxford Mail, concerns have been raised about additional pressures on school places as academies have power over admissions arrangements and can refuse to expand.