04 Dec 2024
Plans are in progress for a permanent change to Marlborough Science Academy’s intake to accommodate need and growth within the local area.
Over the last three years Herts county council has requested the school expand from 212 to 240 pupils in Year 7.
This was always presented as a temporary measure, but MSA has since been requested to make this change permanent from September 2025, when it would operate eight forms of entry.
A spokesperson for HCC said: “Marlborough Science Academy – alongside other schools in St Albans – has been temporarily admitting an extra form of entry for Year 7 students, meaning the school has admitted eight forms of entry in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“To help meet the forecast demand for secondary school places in St Albans, and particularly to ensure that St Albans children can continue to access good school places locally, in December 2023 the county council’s Cabinet agreed to help fund a permanent expansion of Marlborough Science Academy.
“Marlborough Science Academy are now going through the processes needed to allow the school to operate with eight forms of entry permanently.
“These include a significant change application to the Department for Education and a planning application for the new buildings and facilities needed for a permanent increase in the school’s intake.
“The planned works include a new two-storey teaching block to include five general classrooms, two IT classrooms, faculty office, small meeting room and accessible toilet, as well as associated landscaping changes.
“All places at the school will be allocated in line with Marlborough Science Academy’s published admission criteria.”
