A SCHOOL has been forced to spend £200,000 on temporary buildings to help cope with growing pupil numbers and their desire to study more subjects.

Southend Council has given the cash to Shoeburyness High School to bring in three portable classrooms on its Caulfield Road site.

Acting deputy head Huw Williams said the buildings were needed to meet demand for space to teach a wider range of subjects.

He explained: "We are one of the largest schools in the borough, with more than 1,600 pupils and the sixth-form has increased to 220 pupils.

"The growing diversification of subjects and the use of new teaching methods means we now have a lot of smaller specialist areas, all of which need their own space."

The temporary buildings will allow space to be cleared in the main school premises for the teaching of more A-level subjects, including law and TV and film studies. The buildings will house learning mentors who help pupils in small groups of about half a dozen.

Mr Williams added: "We also have the Double Club initiative which, working with the Southend United Education Trust, helps pupils improve literacy and numeracy through football."

Temporary buildings have been brought in to bridge a gap until the school gets a total rebuild under the Government's long-term schools rebuilding programme.

Belfairs High School in Leigh is currently undergoing the borough's first such revamp.

Sally Carr, councillor responsible for children and learning, said: "Shoeburyness is the next school to be looked at for rebuilding and I'm pleased about the diverse range of teaching skills it is prepared to use to help pupils.

"However, the use of learning mentors is not the only reason it is an excellent school. The growing range of subjects will create more career opportunities for the students."

Part of the cost of the portable buildings will covered by cash from developers planning to develop land next to Asda in Shoebury.