AN expansion to an over-subscribed East Oxford primary school has been given the go-ahead – despite question-marks over funding for new buildings.

Larkrise Primary School, in Boundary Brook Road, currently takes in 45 children per year but has seen a considerably larger number of families putting the school down as the first choice for their children – meaning some being turned away.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for schools improvement Michael Waine has agreed to raise the Year One admissions intake to 60 and approved funding for a £100,000 temporary classroom ready for September.

But he admitted there were no guarantees there would be further cash for permanent classroom accommodation.

Mr Waine said: “In the early stages we met with the headteacher and governors and we were very cautious about our own capital funding but moved ahead on a trust basis that we would look at permanent facilities when capital funding became available.

“Sadly there can be no guarantees for the immediate future but the school decided to move forward on an act of faith and we would seek to maintain that faith.”

The school has 349 pupils. The expansion will eventually see it rise to 420 pupils.

Last year, Mr Waine announced the proposed increase in the school’s size as part of efforts to provide more places for children in the city.

He claimed an inaccurate NHS estimate of the number of children who would reach school age had seen pressure on places, along with movement from the independent to state sector during the recession.

A feasibility study is being carried out to identify the school’s long-term permanent accommodation needs.

Mr Waine said: “We will do our utmost to maintain our commitment to them but that will be deferred until such time as funding is available and will fit in with other priorities – but we would not wish to break that act of faith as an authority.”

He said as well as classroom space, other issues that needed to be addressed included the functionality and suitability of existing accommodation, including the size of the hall, ICT and changing provision.

Mr Waine said: “At the moment we simply don’t have the capital funding to see it through.”

He said the new, modular building would provide good quality temporary classrooms.

During consultation on the plans, seven people raised concerns about whether “sufficient and appropriate” permanent accommodation could be guaranteed without undue delay.

Headteacher Mark Chesterton was unavailable for comment.