Primary school crisis worse than thought

17 Nov 09
Councils in London are preparing a new round of lobbying to secure more government funding for primary schools after data showed capacity problems were worse than first thought
By David Williams

17 November 2009

Councils in London are preparing a new round of lobbying to secure more government funding for primary schools after data showed capacity problems were worse than first thought.

In July, the Department for Children, Schools and Families pledged an extra £200m to be spent nationally, but a survey by London Councils has suggested that much more will be needed in time for the 2010/11 academic year.

The organisation first raised the issue in April, when it warned that councils were struggling to provide enough places for reception-age children. This was due to a booming birth rate and fewer familes moving out of London because of the recession.

Figures published this month show the problem is getting worse, with 28 out of 32 boroughs expecting to have a shortfall in places by 2016. Two-thirds are already in difficulty. London Councils now estimates that the capital will be 50,710 places short over the next seven years.

That figure assumes each five-year-old entering a reception class in 2010/11 will continue to require a primary school place up to the age of 11, at a cost of an extra £880m – up from April’s estimate of £750m.

If additional classrooms were provided borough by borough rather than strategically across the capital, the overall costs could top £1.5bn, London Councils estimated.

However, the body said its new figures are ‘significantly understated’ as they do not take into account the 118 additional, mostly temporary, classrooms that authorities have already provided at their own expense from September.

Jo Mennell, head of local government finance at London Councils, said there was consensus among council leaders across the political spectrum, and that authorities would consider a lump sum to be spent London-wide.

‘For some authorities it’s the biggest issue they have to deal with – we’re talking about massive capital investment,’ she told Public Finance.

Mennell said funding for councils in London was dropping, and three-quarters of boroughs were receiving the lowest possible revenue grant increases from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

She also said the extra funding should be allocated as soon as possible, as time was running out for councils to build more classrooms.

Mennell questioned plans announced by ministers last month that every child should be entitled to a school place as soon as they turn four.

She said: ‘Have they scoped the impact of that – especially in areas where there is no capacity?’

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