DELAYS to a new secondary school for Oxford will see The Cherwell School increase its intake to cope with rising pupil numbers.

Earlier this month the Oxford Mail revealed The Swan School was earmarked for the Harlow Centre in Marston and would not open until September 2019 – a year later than planned.

The River Learning Trust, which will run The Swan School, confirmed that the Harlow Centre was the most likely site and said that it was 'the only viable location that can cater to Oxford's need for secondary school places by 2019.'

Trust chief executive Paul James said: “It is not ideal that we cannot open in 2018 but it would clearly not be possible given all the work involved.

"Working with the Education Funding Agency and the local community I and my team are now looking forward to establishing The Swan School as an excellent new provider of secondary education to meet Oxford's growing needs."

The Cherwell School will increase its Year 7 intake by 15 pupils from this September to help relieve pressure on school places.

Its headteacher Chris Price said: "Although we are limited as to how far we can go in admitting additional students because of classroom and site restrictions we are making these extra places available in order to help the community at this time."