AN OXFORD primary school is set to double in size after council chiefs backed its £2m plans yesterday.

Cutteslowe Primary School in Wren Road will now increase its pupil intake from 30 to 60 from September 2013.

Its total numbers will increase from 210 to 420 over the following seven years.

The plans will also see the school physically extended, with the creation of six new classrooms and new administration rooms by September 2013, while current facilities will be refurbished.

Melinda Tilley, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for schools improvement, ratified the decision at a special meeting yesterday.

She said: “I am very, very pleased.”

Jean Fooks, who represents Summertown and Wolvercote on the council, said: “I am delighted about this decision.

“It will mean that local children will have places in local schools, rather than travelling to north Kidlington.”

The school’s headteacher, Jon Gray, said: “We are very excited about the expansion.

“It is hugely important for the school. If you are a bigger school you can attract more resources and you can move forward.”

Governors chairman Murray Hunt said: “The governing body is extremely enthusiastic and very much in favour of the plans. We are very pleased the council has made its decision.”

The school was given a notice to improve its leadership and teaching by Ofsted in October 2010. In May, the education inspectorate found it was making progress.