By Andrew Young-
Birmingham needs nearly 12,000 extra school places by September 2021, with 5,000 potentially needed by this September.
Figures released by the Department for Education show that based on school capacity surveys as at May 2017, the local authority needs an estimated 4,689 extra school places by this September, and 11,918 extra by September 2021.
Across the West Midlands met area, 18,479 extra school places are needed by September 2021, with 7,409 needed by September. The figures take into account planned additional places, although additional places may have been added since May 2017.
Forecasts suggest pupil numbers in Birmingham are set to rise by 14%, from 185,000 in 2016/17 to 211,000 in 2021/22. Another 5,149 primary places are needed in Birmingham by September 2021, with 6,769 secondary places needed. Longer-term secondary forecasts suggest the area will need 9,832 places by September 2023. Birmingham is a hugely diverse city with one of the country’s most talented professionals and academics. On the other extreme of the spectrum, the city has a terrible gang culture that calls for desperate actions.
According to released figures, in 2016/17, 112 primary schools in the area had more pupils than places, affecting 775 pupils, although 187 schools had spare places, while 15 secondary schools had more pupils than places, affecting 467 pupils, with 72 schools with spare capacity.
In other parts of the West Midlands, an additional 1,913 school places are needed in Sandwell by September 2021, with 1,161 needed by this September, while Walsall needs an extra 1,790 places by September 2021, Coventry needs 1,141, Wolverhampton needs 783, Solihull needs 702, and Dudley needs 232.
Across the West Midlands met area, 18,479 extra school places are needed by September 2021, with 7,409 needed by September.
The figures take into account planned additional places, although additional places may have been added since May 2017.
Forecasts suggest pupil numbers in Birmingham are set to rise by 14%, from 185,000 in 2016/17 to 211,000 in 2021/22.
In 2016/17, 112 primary schools in the area had more pupils than places, affecting 775 pupils, although 187 schools had spare places, while 15 secondary schools had more pupils than places, affecting 467 pupils, with 72 schools with spare capacity.
In other parts of the West Midlands, an additional 1,913 school places are needed in Sandwell by September 2021, with 1,161 needed by this September, while Walsall needs an extra 1,790 places by September 2021, Coventry needs 1,141, Wolverhampton needs 783, Solihull needs 702, and Dudley needs 232.
Alternatively, looking further ahead, an estimated 79,000 primary places are needed across England to meet demand for September 2021.
This translates to between 10,000 and 14,000 primary places needed each year.
