The government is failing badly in two of its core duties – teacher supply and school places. Dr Mary Bousted outlines the problems

It is reasonable to assume that the government is fully aware that children start school aged four or five and transfer to secondary school aged 11.

So it is strange, therefore, that although primary pupil numbers have risen dramatically, and are due to rise a further eight per cent between 2015 and 2024, the government appears to have given little thought, and to have no coordinated plans, to increase the number of secondary school places to accommodate the rise in the pupil population which is already hitting schools and is due to rise by 20 per cent over this period.

Councils are having to step in where the government fears to tread and are devoting significant amounts of extra funding to create more school places. Reading Borough Council has borrowed £34.5 million and Essex County Council has had to supplement government funding for extra school places by £38.7 million from its own resources.

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