£1 billion black hole as schools struggle to find enough places

London schools are facing a £1 billion funding black hole as they battle to cope with overwhelming demand for places, councils warned today.

Local authorities are being forced to spend £9,000 for every child without a place to make up for lack of government funding, according to a damning report.

It comes as London’s biggest primary school, which has become a symbol of the crisis, prepares to take in 1,200 pupils after the summer break.

Gascoigne primary in Barking has filled every space with temporary classrooms to cope with the demand and highlights the growing squeeze caused by a high birth rate and immigration.

It is one of a growing number of “super size” primaries in London.

Peter John, executive member for children’s services at London Councils, which represents the capital’s 33 local authorities, said: “Councils are pulling out all the stops to create places but London’s rising population, particularly at school age, means they are running to stand still. Frankly, this is just not sustainable.

“Families will rightly be asking why the Government isn’t doing more to avoid putting pupils’ education at risk. Councils need sufficient funding to do this job and can’t simply be left to pick up the tab.”

According to analysis from London Councils, they need to fund a further 83,470 school places between 2014 and 2017 — the equivalent of 199 new primary schools or 80 new secondaries. If the new classrooms were laid side by side they would cover 151 full-size football pitches.

The Government has given the capital £1.6 billion to pay for places, but London Councils say they are spending an extra £1.04 billion on top of this. Including places they have recently created and those they have yet to pay for, London Councils said they have topped up the government funding by £9,000 per pupil without a place.

Councillor Peter John said: “Cash-strapped councils could otherwise spend this money on school equipment or other essential services. The Government needs to reassure worried parents and provide adequate school funding.”

London Councils warned that the school places squeeze is worse in the capital because of the rising birth rate, fewer pupils going to private schools than in other parts of the country, and fewer families moving out of the city than previously.