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London primary schools are full to bursting point, councils warn today. Figures show schools need an extra 50,000 places to cope with an unprecedented surge in demand — and that could cost up to £1.5 billion.
A report by the London Councils lobby group says the sheer scale of London's problems is unique.
It blames a rising birth rate, sluggish housing market with fewer families moving out of the city, and more parents choosing state education because of the recession.
Parents are applying now for children to start next September. Many will be disappointed as schools which have “run out of places” turn thousands away.
The survey warned that the “extremely severe” shortage will get worse every year until 2018. It says: “There are some very large geographical areas with absolutely no capacity, particularly for reception class children.”
Nicholas Stanton, schools spokesman for London Councils, said: “There is a crisis this year.” The worst-hit boroughs are Brent, Barnet, Enfield, Waltham Forest, Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Southwark, Lambeth, Croydon, Richmond and Kingston, which each need more than 2,000 extra places over the next three years.
At least £880 million — and as much as £1.5 billion — will be required to create permanent new classes for 50,710 extra pupils by 2017-18. The report said: “Severe capacity problems in geographical hotspots means they are now being forced to contemplate some tough decisions about where to place children.”
The Government has promised £200 million for councils across England. Mr Stanton, leader of Southwark council, called on ministers to provide emergency funding, adding: “No one wants schools to put portable cabins on playing fields or playgrounds.”
Primary schools in two thirds of London boroughs are full — 20 out of 32 London boroughs are short of primary school places for this year and next. Nine out of 10 predict a shortage over the next seven years. Analysts believe the Government's plans for all pupils to start school aged four, rather than five, will make the situation worse.
A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: “Some authorities are facing unanticipated rises in demand for reception-age pupils, others simply did not plan or budget effectively for rising birth rates.”
Reader views (19)
Karen, People don't want to send their kids to those schools because of the high churn of immigrant, non-english speaking pupils through the school. Sorry, but that is the honest truth, whether you like it or not. Parents want a school with a stable environment where kids are not coming and going and teachers can focus on teaching.
It is government policy (or lack of) on immigration and building high density housing in already crowded areas which has led to this unfortunate situation.
- Toby, London
Dan: I am blaming the governments policy on immigration as the primary cause of needing these 50,000 places in our schools in London, not the immigrants, they have done no wrong. There is no other reason why these places are needed apart from a drastic increase in population due to foreign migration into London. Get down off your UAF ledge and open your eyes for one second, as London is over populated with foreign immigrants, and trust me, my eyes (and others) are not deceiving me. You must not live in London mate as it doesn't matter what part of London you are in, there is a serious problem with mass immigration everywhere in the capital; Walk down any street from Harrow to Tower Hamlets, from Hounslow to Croydon to Peckham and beyond...so wake up and stop blowing the same leftie trumpet, as we are well wise to its tune of lies and deceit.
- Porky Pies, Land of Make Believe, London
It does seem that most of the best places go to non-taxpaying "social cases". That is wrong to the lawábiding Brit.
- Georgie, Islington, London
There would now seem to be a lot of empty desks in the private schools. Maybe the councils might pay to send the overspill kids into the private sector, to fill the gaps there and ease their problem?
Better though that parents be offered the money the council would have spent on their kids, so as to reduce the cost of private education, whilst removing some of the extra school load the council cannot deal with. Couls all be done at no extra cost to the councils.
- Naomi, Manchester
@Porky Pies
Immigration may be too high and that should be dealt with. But blaming everything on the immigrants is pathetic.
And made up facts about there being "hardly any white people in London no more" are just as ridiculous, since white British is still the majority grouping in London. I think you've been listening to Nick Griffin's tripe about London being a foreign country. Well, it's nonsense.
Blaming immigrants for every problem while acting like white Britons are saints is just absurd. There are a fair anmount of white Britons scrounging off the state, intent on bleeding the benefits system dry and breeding like rabbits to gain tax breaks, but whenever a story about overcrowding or a lack of funding appears that's suddenly all forgotten and it's all blamed on immigrants/immigration.
I'm telling you, some of the white British that you are so intent on defending are having just as much, if not more, of a negative impact on this country as the big bad immigrants that are being vilified and used as scapegoats.
Sure, get immigration levels in check, but let's not act like every bad thing that happens in this country is down to immigration and white Britons are blameless.
- Dan, London
I work in a Southwark school which is oversubscribed, but around us there are at least ten schools which are only half full, because no one wants to send their children there. The same applies in other boroughs. Surely it is then false to say that we do not have enough primary school places. Parents will have to be less fussy and take whatever is on offer.
- Karen, London
It is mass immigration Dan...Just take a look around London for one second, every council has a "majority" of minorities in its schools. All of a sudden it is taboo to mention that there is hardly any white people in London no more. The level of immigration into the UK is insane and must stop. There are many parts of London that resemble third world countries, not a high street in Londoin and this is simply unacceptable in the UK.
- Porky Pies, Land of Make Believe, London
200,000 plus coming into UK every year. Many having children for benefits and to enable them to stay put. Its not rocket science is it. And its going to get worse folks.
Grreen & pleasant land ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell
Somebody is kidding us,saying we have 65-70 million in these Islands I would reckon more like 80-90.
To think at the 1911 Census we had 30 Million.
It was in the 1950's that the surge began,so whoever started all this overcrowding is probably long gone.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey
It's not only immigration. Our local primary school will soon have to cope with an influx of about 35 children arising from a block of so-called 'affordable housing' i.e. council flats, which no one in the area wanted and we have had forced on us. We will all soon have to cope wit ha massive spike in crime once these little thugs hit 8 or 9 years old - some of them already have tattoos and diamond earrings, aged 4.
The government could certainly help the sitiation by giving tax breaks to make private schools more affordable - but catch them doing that!
- Liz, London,UK
Yep, it's solely down to mass immigration.
Nothing to do with all the British teenagers who have dropped three sprogs by the time they're eighteen so they can get a council house and live off benefits.
Nope. It's all Johnny Foreigner's fault.
- Dan, London
In Camden about 10 years a go a large secondary school, St Richard of Chichester, was closed and its very nice buildings sold off to developers, they are now flats. Camden has had shortages since and are now scrambling around trying to find a site to build a new secondary school.
- Electra M, Londno
In Twickenham the Kneller School site was sold off some years ago for housing and the Twickenham County Girls School turned into an adult education centre. Between these two, probably 1500+ places lost. So it's not just immigration.
- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia
Mass immigration is responsible, nothing else.
Cheap labour for rotten employers.
A new set of dependents on the state for Labour.
If you come to this country as young immigrants from a poor country,
you come for state benefits (social housing,free NHS,
free education),even if you work.
- British Not Racist, Bracknell England
Don't worry. Mr Brown will soon be retiring to survey the ruins of Britain and blame it on the Tories.
- Mike Newland, London, England
I take your point Dave, but would argue that it's not the amount of immigrants ,so much as the selection process. i.e. -what can you contribute to U.K., and can you speak the language, -will you embrace, or at least respect our culture? Etc. -At the other end of the spectrum Dave, we have young girls , neither married or in stable relationships with or without 'stable' partners, who seem to be encouraged, nay, almost 'bribed' to have children who will end up being looked after by the state in one way or another, and eventually expect to be educated by the state. -The situation needs sorted out at both ends!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
Surely its time that the government now looked at providing tax breaks or rebates for those that opt for private education.
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
Is this is one of the benefits of mass immigration we are constantly told about?
These huge increases in population are unsustainable, whether in schools, healthcare, transport, energy or jobs.
Now what was your plan again Nu Labour?
- Stephen, London, England
The goverment can say what they want,its all due to mass immigration.Millions have been let in yet no extra schools have been built.Its the same with hospitals and trying to find a dentist.Immigration may have some financial benifits for the goverment such as slave labour,but the standard and quality of life in the UK has droped and is heading towards third world.
- Dave, london
