A building firm has won a £3.9 million contract to construct 14 new classrooms at two primary schools as the city faces a serious shortfall of school places.
There will be space for 420 pupils in the modular classrooms at Ellenbrook Primary and Grosvenor Road Primary School in Swinton.
Northern Ireland-based McAvoy Group Ltd has won the tender to build the classrooms and is expected to take around six months to have the places ready for the start of term in September.
When the plans were announced Councillor John Merry, lead member for Education, said a massive influx of families into the city meant schools were struggling to cope.
He said: “The city is growing rapidly and by 2015 Salford will have created the equivalent of 14 new primary schools through expanding buildings.
“The latest population projections show we may have to do the same again by 2020.”
A £4 million project to rebuild Mesne Lea Primary School in Walkden started last week.
The school will double in size to offer 420 places under the plans, as well as having space for 26 nursery-age children.
Salford City Council also recently allocated £283,000 to bring in new staff at New Park High School in Eccles to create two new Key Stage 2 classes for children in Years 3 to 6.
Ofsted’s most recent figures suggest primary schools in Salford are getting better.
In 2013/14, 84% of Salford primary schools were rated good or outstanding, up 9% from last year.
