More school places 'needed'

August 09 2010

More primary school places are needed to accommodate the growing number of youngsters currently living in the UK, it has been claimed.

According to a report by the Daily Telegraph, approximately 60,000 new places are required if a crisis is to be avoided.

The publication noted that this is equivalent to about 250 schools.

Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, suggested that the best state schools are under considerable pressure.

"The main problem is that the population is rising and these youngsters are at least four years old, so the local authority should have planned for an increase.
They should have learnt from the birth rate figures, the immigration figures and all sorts of other data," he commented.

Mr Seaton added that there is growing evidence to suggest that small class sizes are advantageous for children below the age of seven, so increasing numbers could damage prospects for thousands of youngsters.


 

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