Do the maths: London's primary school shortage

In December 2009, following lobbying from London Councils, the Department for Children Schools and Families announced emergency funding of £300 million for local authorities around the country facing pressure on their primary school places.

Recognising the particular acuteness of the problem in the capital, 16 London boroughs will received around half the fund – some £143 million. However, the shortage of primary school places will continue to be a major issue in the capital and this money represents a welcome move in the right direction to meeting the shortfalls faced in London.

London Councils research shows that 20 out of 32 London authorities are currently experiencing capacity problems or will face a shortfall of places at some point between now and the end of the next spending review period in 2010/11.

Twenty eight out of 32 London boroughs predict that they will face primary school place capacity problems over the next seven year period.

London Councils has collected data on capacity pressures from boroughs throughout London. The returns have enabled us to build up a picture across the capital which shows a predicted shortfall of 50,710 places over the next seven years.

This seven year projection represents the number of years a 5 year old entering reception class will ordinarily spend at primary school from reception to year 6, and assumes a place will be required for a child for this duration.

Accommodating all of these children in permanent classes would cost approximately £880 million for the period 2010/11 to 2017/18.

For full details of London Councils' lobbying on this issue, please see the following pages that detail the do the maths campaign.