A shortage of places and rising birth rates means a Medway primary school is going to have to expand to meet demand.

With 234 children applying for 225 places in six schools on the Hoo Peninsula for this September, Medway Council is having to make plans for the future.

When the school year begins, all schools will have a full reception class with nine children having to travel to Strood - the nearest school with space is Elaine Primary Academy, three and a half miles away.

A report prepared for Medway Council’s cabinet, which meets on Tuesday, said: “Demand for school places in the peninsula area continues to rise, due in the main to a continued rise in birth rates as well as the inward movement of families into the area.

“A number of recently completed, under development and proposed housing schemes will add to the ongoing demand for school places.”

The extra places will need to be available from September 2018 and council education officers believe the best place for expansion is at Cliffe Woods Primary Academy.

The school in View Road has a good size site and an increase in size from 45 to 60 pupils would only require a small amount of work and cost less then £600,000.

While building work would not be finished until 2018, the school has said they can take extra pupils from 2017 knowing the expansion would be ready for the next intake.

The cost, location and size of the sites at High Halstow Primary, Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Primary Academy have ruled them out as options at the moment.

Although Chattenden Primary Academy will be expanded if the Lodge Hill development goes ahead.

The 5,000 home development, which has been called in for review by the government, would also see three new primary schools and a secondary school built.

As part of the decision, the schools’ popularity with parents has been considered and as St Helen’s did not get a full complement of first preferences it has been ruled out too.

A primary school is currently being built at Hundred of Hoo Academy with 30 places but could expand in the future if more new homes are built nearby. Pupils are being taught in temporary classrooms at the moment.

The proposal would normally be considered in the autumn as part of the annual review of the school organisation plan, but to ensure the places are available soon the discussion has been moved forward.