Suffolk needs 600 more school places by 2026, figures show

Why it matters: Education unions warn the Government must address the shortage "as early as possible" to ensure children do not miss out on places at local schools.

The details: Department for Education figures show 105 new school places are planned across primary and secondary schools in Suffolk between May 2024 and September 2026. However, the department estimates around 600 further places are needed to meet the area's forecasted demand for the 2026-27 school year.

This includes an additional 110 primary school places and 490 secondary school places.

The bigger picture: Across England, the number of planned primary and secondary school places will need to more than double to meet demand. An estimated 54,800 school places are needed on top of the already planned 47,000 new places.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said there are significant variations between different parts of the country, individual schools and year groups.

He explained: "Many secondary schools are now facing the kind of pressure on places experienced by primaries a few years ago.

"Even though primary schools in some areas are seeing pupil numbers decline due to factors including falling birth rates and a lack of affordable housing, competition for places in some schools remains high."

What's next: Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the Government must address the need for more spaces "as early as possible", because of the significant lead-in time for building or expanding schools.

He added: "The last thing we want is to end up with more families facing the heartache of missing out on places in local schools."

Arooj Shah, chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said councils have continued to respond to the "ever-increasing" demand by helping to create thousands of new school places.

She said the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords, will help as it places a duty on all schools to work with councils on place planning and admissions and enables councils to open any type of school needed locally.

What they're saying: A Department for Education spokesperson said parents should be reassured, with over 97% of children accepted to one of their top school choices.

They added: "Through our Plan for Change this Government is determined to make sure every child, wherever they live, can achieve and thrive in school.

"Councils are legally responsible for ensuring there are enough school places for their local communities and should work in collaboration with academy trusts and other local partners to balance the supply and demand of school places, in line with changing demographics."

The bottom line: Suffolk faces a significant school places shortage that requires urgent Government action to prevent local families from missing out on their preferred schools by 2026.