HEADTEACHER is being forced to give up her own office and turn it into a classroom due to growing pupil numbers.

Debbie Rogan, headteacher at Wickford Church of England Infant School, in Mount Road, Wickford, is giving up her office as the school is bursting at the seams and as no space to expand.

She has asked Basildon Council for permission to take over a single- storey outbuilding in Southend Road, opposite the school, which she will use as an office, administration and training room.

Her former office has flooded four times in the past 12 months because of structural problems.

Mrs Rogan, who is also executive headteacher at Briscoe Primary School, in Felmores End, Pitsea, said: “Last time the office flooded it caused £100,000 worth of damage.

“If we could use the building over the road, it would provide some space for staff. We’ve expanded considerably over the past few years in terms of both staff and pupils.

“There is very little space in the school and there is not a lot of room to expand. Normally you would just build extra classroooms, but we don’t have the space to do that.

“If we could free up the existing office, we could use that to teach small groups.”

In its first inspection since becoming an academy in 2012, the school was given an outstanding rating.

Basildon Council wants to build 2,800 new homes in Wickford by 2031 as part of its local plan.

Peter Holliman, Ukip councillor for Wickford North, said new housing developments such as Beauchamps Place, in Southend Road, are going to put even more pressure on schools in the town.

A £200million 575-home estate is being built on the former Runwell Hospital site, off Runwell Road, while developer Bellway Homes is building 87 flats on the former car dealership site next to Golden Jubilee Way, and Bloor Homes is leading a 68-home development in Brock Meadow.

Mr Holliman said: “I know we say this over and over, but it all comes down to infrastructure.

“Its all well and good building homes, but we need the services and facilities to cope with them.”

“Wickford C of E School is an old Victorian building and needs a total rebuild, but there just isn’t any money available."