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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.
In April London Councils launched its do the maths campaign to highlight the huge shortage of primary school reception places.
Following sustained lobbying from London Councils, the government has announced that £200 million of capital funding will be made available nationally to local authorities with an exceptional need for additional primary school places.
London Councils has welcomed this funding, but warned that it will not be enough to address London’s acute and long term need.
Places shortfall
Changes in London’s demographics, combined with the impact of the recession, have led to an extraordinary rise in demand for new reception places, leaving many schools with little or no capacity to take on new pupils.
Earlier this year London Councils assembled evidence from every local authority in the capital to assess the extent of the problem, and the figures were startling. Based on current projections, London faces reception place shortfalls of more than 18,300 in total by 2014.
This financial year alone, more than 2,250 children will be without a reception place, and councils have been forced to consider a range of emergency temporary measures to accommodate these children.
Additional Funding
London Councils welcomes the announcement of £200 million to build new primary school places. However London alone needs around £740 million to ensure a place for every five year old over the next five years.
While the funding will help reduce the pressure being experienced at reception level, it won’t help with the pressure caused by increased numbers working their way through the local school system.
London Councils is calling on the government to set aside a pot of money that can be flexibly and quickly allocated to councils who are experiencing the worst pressure from year to year.
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