SCHOOL PLACES

That this House is concerned that unless more places are created in secondary schools an increasing number of local authorities will be facing a shortfall; notes a Local Government Association analysis of Department for Education figures shows that by 2019-20, 49 of 152 local authorities will have more secondary-age pupils than school places, if sufficient places are not provided; further notes that although 90,000 additional primary places were created last academic year there is a need for almost 130,000 places, the equivalent of 4,750 classes, by 2017-18; and calls on the Government to provide sufficient funding to make up for the looming shortfall and to give back to councils the power to create new schools so they can fulfil their statutory duty to offer places.