16,000 new secondary school places needed within seven years

More than 16,000 new secondary school places will be needed within the next seven years to meet rising demand, according to analysis by the BBC.

Official figures reportedly show that the number of children applying for primary school in 2016 exceeds the current number of secondary school places by 16,284.

The analysis covered 134 areas across the country, but omitted 16 councils which use a ‘three-tier’ system of middle schools for pupils typically aged 9-13.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said that local authorities have plans to create 52,000 more secondary school places by 2018, with £7 billion is committed to new places.

However, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said that the issue is being ‘ignored’ by the government.

Kevin Courtney, acting general secretary of the NUT, said: "It is resulting in overcrowded classrooms, schools expanding beyond an optimum size and children travelling further to school.

"Population changes are not a new phenomenon and local authorities, who are responsible for providing sufficient school places, have traditionally been able to plan to meet rising and falling demand.

"The significant factor in the current situation is that, since 2010, the government has undermined local authorities' legal powers to deliver new school places. This is an abdication of responsibility."