More than 36,000 additional secondary school places must be created in London over the next six years to ensure young Londoners get the top-quality education they deserve, according to London Councils’ Do The Maths report.
Overall, Do The Maths shows that London schools face a £1 billion funding shortfall over the next six years due to forecast demand for nearly 64,000 additional school places across the capital.
However, the report also illustrates how demand for primary school places in London is easing, with only 27,000 additional places needed over the next six years.
This is due in part to the remarkable achievements of London boroughs, which have invested their time, funding and expertise to support school expansion projects and enable the construction of new schools.
Schools have been aware that lower birth rates in 2013 would lead a smaller number of children starting primary school in London this year, but it is clear that high property prices in some areas and the initial effects of the EU membership referendum have also contributed to this easing of pressure at primary level.
London is also home to more pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) than the national average – the number of SEND pupils in the capital has increased by 22 per cent since 2010. Creating a new SEND school place in London costs around £69,000 on average, which is three times the cost of creating a mainstream school place.
