PLANS to expand a Teddington primary school have been given the green light by Richmond upon Thames Council.

This week the council's cabinet agreed to find the funding to expand Collis Primary School in Fairfax Road to meet future rising demand for primary school places. A proposal will now be submitted to the Local School Organisation Committee, which makes decisions about new school places.

The project will provide a new Key Stage 2 block, enabling the school to expand from two to three forms of entry.

A council bid for funding to the Department for Education and Skills to finance the project was unsuccessful so money for the scheme will now be found within the council's own funds.

Consultation has already taken place with Collis and other primary schools in the Teddington area and there will be further discussions. Once proposals are published there must also, by law, be a further two month consultation period.

The council's cabinet member for schools, Cllr Geoffrey Samuel, said: "I am delighted the council has found money for this expansion, while at the same time very disappointed that the government could not. The scheme is vitally needed to help accommodate additional pupil numbers and is very good news for the children of Teddington and their parents."

The headteacher at Collis School, David Butterfield, said: "I am extremely pleased at the cabinet decision which, ultimately, will result in the expansion of the school. It is excellent news all round."

Cllr Bob King, Lib Dem spokesman for education said: "Of course we welcome the decision to provide the new build at Collis, the need for which has become increasingly evident. Certainly since the beginning of 2002 the Liberal Democrats have been pressing to find ways of raising the money. When the new administration came in in May 2002 we thought that the matter was slipping when complications set in over the possibility of using playing field space for housing but finally things seem to be coming right."