EDUCATION chiefs in Birmingham today warned of a ticking timebomb with the equivalent of 50 new primary schools needed in ten years’ time due to a projected relentless rise in the birth rate.

The warning has come in two reports presented to councillors sitting on the city’s children and education scrutiny committee.

The Birmingham Mail revealed earlier this month that almost 1,000 new places are to be provided following £38.9 million of new money for primary schools.

About 400 of the places will be in Hodge Hill and Washwood Heath wards, with a new primary school confirmed for Bordesley Green, and plans for a second new primary in Alum Rock.

But the situation would appear to be even more pressing, according to the alarming reports.

Coun Jon Hunt, chairman of the scrutiny committee, said: “There is real pressure on primary school places due to projections in the birth rate.

“In ten years we would need the equivalent of 50 new primary schools. We are already anticipating 3,000 additional reception children aged three and four by that date.

“The problem is city-wide, but it is concentrated on inner city areas.”

The new primary school in Bordesley Green is expected to provide 90 places a year, but the council is also planning to expand three existing schools – Thornton in Ward End, Greet in Sparkhill and Regents Park in Small Heath, as a matter of urgency.

Coun Hunt added: “Thornton is being expanded this autumn with an extra class intake, and Greet and Regents Park have also been identified.

“Beyond that, if these projections start to come true, there will need to be a lot more than that.”

“We have to expand schools because we don’t want to see lots of temporary classrooms,” Coun Hunt said.

“We will also need to take on a lot more teachers if the birth rate continues to increase.”