Jessica Luper 25 September 2015

11,200 new primary school classrooms needed by 2024

Local authorities will need to build the equivalent of 11,200 new primary school classrooms in the next nine years to meet rising demand, new research has revealed.

Research from built environment specialists Scape Group shows that up to 1,600 new primary schools would need to be built to meet the needs of Britain’s rising young population.

The largest growth, unsurprisingly, is in London, where the number of pupils is set to increase by 146,000 between 2015 and 2020, accounting for a quarter of extra pupils nationally. London therefore needs to create 78,275 new primary school places before 2020 - the equivalent of 2,600 extra 30-pupil classrooms.

The north will also see significant growth in primary pupil numbers, with Manchester set to see a 26% rise in its primary population by 2019 - the equivalent of 370 new classrooms or 53 single entry schools. Leeds, meanwhile will need to provide an extra 309 classrooms or as many as 44 new schools.

Simon Reid, head of Scape Design, said: 'It's clear from our research that both the public and private sectors have a huge task on their hands. Some constituencies will see an increase in pupil numbers of up to a third, and others will need to create hundreds of new classrooms in just a few years' time.

'Already parents struggle to get their children into their preferred schools and the crisis in school places will only increase if councils don't act now to increase capacity.

'As the extra pupils at primary level move towards secondary school, there will be increasing pressure on local authorities to deliver extra secondary school buildings, which are much larger and require extra facilities. As an industry we have a responsibility to get better at collaborating and innovating to meet the needs of the public sector and the communities we all live in - delivering extra capacity quickly and cost-effectively. New technologies will be an essential part of that.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Standards, Compliance and Development Manager - Children’s residential provisions

Oxfordshire County Council
£57187.00 - £60485.00
This role will lead on Quality Assurance, Standards development, and Regulatory compliance for Oxfordshire’s residential children’s provision, including the unregulated reforms 2022. The post holder will conduct internal inspections within the registe Countywide
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Streetcare LGV Driver / Operative - WMF2112e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£27,711 - £28,624
Westmorland and Furness Council are seeking to employ an enthusiastic and motivated person into a Street Cleansing role Cumbria
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Specialist Communication Support Worker (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 7, £27,259 - £29,955 (pay award pending)
The City of Doncaster Council puts improving the life of its residents at the centre of everything we do. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Apprentice Social Value

Durham County Council
£14,566
Earn. Learn. Qualify.   Do you want to earn while you learn, with the chance of progression once you qualify? Do you want the opportunity to grow, dev Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Pay Reward and Employment Services Support Officers

Durham County Council
£25,584 to £27,711 p.a. (Grade 5) Pay Award Pending
An exciting opportunity has arisen for ten Pay, Reward & Employment Services Support Officers to join our CIPP accredited team.   WHAT IS INVOLVED?  Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner