Last week London Councils released the results from the ‘Ask the Parents’ survey which shows that parents in London believe local authorities should have the final say on where new schools are built.
The survey which was commissioned to YouGov, found that 80 per cent of parents agree that councils should have the final say on the location of new schools within their boundaries. The poll also revealed that 78 per cent of parents support councils influencing schools to expand or find more places.
Local authorities in London face a significant challenge of increasing capacity to meet increasing demand for school places, within the context of not being able to open any new schools of our own accord. Instead, councils have to work within the boundaries of existing schools, providers and local communities to create new places in areas of need.
Interestingly the survey highlighted location to be one of the most important influences on parents’ choice of school for their child - one in five parents surveyed said location was the most important factor. 63 per cent of parents also agree that free schools should be set up in areas where there is local demand and need. In the context of significant surge in demand for school places in London, there is a clear need for intelligent school places planning using the expertise of London boroughs. 113,000 additional primary and secondary school places will be needed in London by 2020 and local authorities need to be involved in decisions over these places, in order to ensure that new schools are built in the best possible locations and existing schools are expanded where necessary.
The results of this survey clearly demonstrate that London’s parents believe local authorities should have more involvement in creating school places. The government has committed to building 500 free schools by 2020 and it is essential that it works closely with London boroughs, in order to ensure these schools are in the locations where there is most need. Equally, it is important that all London boroughs continue to act as their community’s champions - brokering the new schools that Londoners need.
Cllr Peter John OBE, London Councils Executive Member for Children, Skills and Employment