London boroughs have been warning for some years that pupil numbers are growing at a faster rate in the capital that elsewhere in the country. By 2016, the shortage of school places is set to reach 118,000.
Demographic trends including a higher-than-expected birth rate, greater rates of inward migration, and increasing numbers of parents staying in the capital after having children has led to an increasing shortage of school places in recent years. As this demographic bulge moves through the school system increasing pressure will also be put on secondary schools and sixth forms.
Boroughs are working with schools to expand places to meet demand. However, this capacity is drying up. Very few schools in London in areas of high demand for places now have existing surplus places and a limited number have capacity to offer new places.
Long term planning and investment is needed to ensure each child has a school place. However, the capital has been allocated £576 million over the next two years to address this but there remains a funding shortfall of over £1billion to provide permanent school places.
In our report Do The Maths London Councils is calling on the Government to acknowledge the unprecedented pressure faced by boroughs in providing enough school places for pupils across the capital. It is calling for London’s fair share of funding to be allocated to councils and for the Government to assist boroughs in planning long term investment in school places.
You can also read the letter from London Councils and the Association of London Directors of Children's Services sent to Rt Hon David Laws on 22 April 2013.