A popular primary school in the heart of St Albans will be allowed to admit twice as many youngsters from 2020.

Currently St Peter’s Primary School, in Cottonmill Lane, takes 30 new children a year.

And that has meant some children having to travel out of the local area to go to school.

But on Monday Hertfordshire County Council agreed that the school should increase to two-form entry – meaning 60 children can be admitted each year from September 2020.

The meeting of the council’s cabinet acknowledged there had been some objections to the move, including concerns from the chair of the school’s governing body.

And the cabinet report highlighted that concerns had included increased traffic and congestion around the school, a loss of facilities and a reduction in the quality of education.

However proposals for the expansion have been drawn up in conjunction with the school for “all facilities necessary for a two form entry school”.

And at cabinet Cllr Terry Douris, executive member for education, libraries and localism, said the school and the governing body were now “content” with the proposals in place.

He said: “People who live in that area don’t manage to get into the school that’s relatively local. To counter that the proposal is to increase the size of St Peter’s from one form to two form entry.

“Generally two form entry provides better educational outcomes .

“At the same time we did have objections from the governing body, concerning mainly the size and design of the new build that we were proposing.

“There has been a significant amount of discussion with the chair of governors and the headteacher – and today we have received conformation that they are content with the proposals we have in place.”

Meanwhile council leader Cllr David Williams said it was a much needed expansion that would prove very popular amongst parents who had struggled to find school places in the centre of St Albans.

According to the cabinet report, the budgets associated with larger schools provides greater flexibility in terns of staffing and resources, with a better distribution of management responsibilities and improved opportunities for staff promotion.