AN extra 150 places could be created if a school is given the go-ahead to expand.

Southend High School for Girls, in Southchurch Boulevard, has submitted an application to Southend Council to get permission to build a new teaching block.

The plans would also involve moving the current tennis courts and the sports equipment storage hut, and adding car parking spaces, cycle parking and some trees.

The proposed expansion would accommodate a further 150 students and provide modern science facilities as well as six new teaching spaces.

James Courtenay, councillor responsible for children and learning, said he supported the plans.

The Tory councillor said: “We do have a shortage of secondary places across the town.

“The plans for Southend High School for Girls include new science facilities which will ensure that students get the best possible teaching facilities, which is something to support.

“It is also good to have new, modern facilities as schools can get dated.

“There is lots of encouragement for the sciences and it was part of a national campaign to get more girls and women interested in sciences so I hope that some of the students will go on to university to study.

“The school is on a nice, big site so I also don’t foresee any issues of them being built too close to residents who live nearby.”

The proposal also includes new car parking, creating 14 additional spaces from remodelling the existing car parking.

This proposal will increase the number of students from 1,100 to 1,170 - 870 will be secondary school pupils and 300 sixth form pupils - with 84 staff.

Eight additional members of staff maybe required in the future.

In the council’s report, it says: “The proposed development is considered to be acceptable and will provide an improved education facility. The development would not result in the loss of playing fields or sports facilities

The school caters for students from the age of 11 through to 18-years-old. The latest Ofsted report took place in December 2011 where the school was given the rating of “outstanding” in all 31 areas.

The plans come after Southend High School for Boys, in Prittlewell Chase, in Westcliff, announced £3million sixth-form expansion plans.

The application has been recommended for approval but will be decided at Southend’s Development and Control meeting next Wednesday.