Of this, £630m will be ‘basic need’ allocations to local authorities to create the places required by September 2021, Damian Hinds said today.
Councils receive basic need funding each year in order to fulfil their duty to ensure that there are enough school places in their local area.
The latest funding has been allocated as part of the government’s wider £7bn investment between 2015 and 2021 to create new school places.
Hinds said in a written statement: “Announcing these allocations means local authorities can plan ahead with confidence, and make good strategic investment decisions to ensure they deliver good school places.”
Last week the government announced that £50m of the £730m will be put towards the Special Provision Capital Fund, aimed at helping councils to create further school places and facilities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
The remaining £50m will be for presumptive school funding, through which local authorities establish new schools in order to meet the need for additional places.