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School places shortage to receive £2.4bn extra School places shortage to receive £2.4bn extra
(about 1 hour later)
A further £2.35bn has been announced to create more school places in England, as schools struggle to keep up with pressure from a rising population.A further £2.35bn has been announced to create more school places in England, as schools struggle to keep up with pressure from a rising population.
The extra funding, announced by Education Secretary Michael Gove, is in addition to £5bn already committed to building more places. The extra money, announced by Education Secretary Michael Gove, is in addition to £5bn already committed for places.
This will extend support for more places up to 2017.This will extend support for more places up to 2017.
Unions said the funding was "pointless" when councils were not able to open new schools directly, as all new schools must be academies or free schools.
These schools are independent - but state-funded schools - which receive their funding directly from central government, rather than through a local authority.
Councils in England have a statutory duty to ensure appropriate planning of school places, but when a new school is required, they must first seek proposals for a free school or academy.
Demographic pressures
Mr Gove said the "overriding priority for capital investment is to ensure every child has a place at school".Mr Gove said the "overriding priority for capital investment is to ensure every child has a place at school".
The education secretary said the government had already created an extra 260,000 places up to May 2013.The education secretary said the government had already created an extra 260,000 places up to May 2013.
A surge in the birth rate has seen primary schools facing increasing demand for places, with particular pressures in some urban areas.A surge in the birth rate has seen primary schools facing increasing demand for places, with particular pressures in some urban areas.
Demographic pressures The government says the move means local authorities will know how much money they will have over the next three years and will be able to plan accordingly.
Mr Gove said: "Demographic pressures have put strain on schools in many parts of the country. In his written ministerial statement, Mr Gove said: "We are giving local authorities longer-term allocations for new school places, which will give them more certainty in their planning."
"That is why we have more than doubled funding for new places to £5 billion in this parliament. By May 2013, this investment had already helped to create an additional 260,000 school places with more still to come. He said: "Demographic pressures have put strain on schools in many parts of the country.
"Today I am announcing an additional £2.35 billion to support local authorities to plan and create new school places that will be needed by 2017." "That is why we have more than doubled funding for new places to £5bn in this parliament. By May 2013, this investment had already helped to create an additional 260,000 school places with more still to come.
Peter John Labour Councillor and London Councils' executive member for children's services, said: "London has the UK's highest demand for new school places, with over 118,000 new places needed by 2016, so today's funding announcement is a welcome step in the right direction. "Today I am announcing an additional £2.35bn to support local authorities to plan and create new school places that will be needed by 2017."
'Pointless'
Peter John, Labour councillor and London Councils' executive member for children's services, said: "London has the UK's highest demand for new school places, with over 118,000 new places needed by 2016, so today's funding announcement is a welcome step in the right direction.
"We are particularly pleased that the Department for Education has recognised the higher costs London boroughs are facing."We are particularly pleased that the Department for Education has recognised the higher costs London boroughs are facing.
"Moving to a three year funding cycle is also an important improvement to the funding arrangements as this will allow boroughs plan ahead, especially as the pupil pressure moves from primary to secondary." "Moving to a three-year funding cycle is also an important improvement to the funding arrangements as this will allow boroughs to plan ahead, especially as the pupil pressure moves from primary to secondary."
But Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "It is pointless the government increasing local authorities' funding for school places if they are not allowed to build and run schools.
"As it is, local authorities are struggling to find free school sponsors in areas of rapidly increasing pupil populations.
"And to make matters worse, the government has made it very difficult for local authorities to plan for additional school places because they are only allowed to consult on expanding existing schools, and only the government is allowed to approve any new academies or free schools.
"As Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove's prime duties are to provide sufficient school places and qualified school teachers, but he is failing to do either."