The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Labour MP Margaret Hodge, claims in a new report that in the ‘rush to deliver sufficient places, local authorities may have to make decisions that affect the quality of education on offer.’
Department for Education figures, based on May 2012 data, revealed that an extra 256,000 primary and secondary school places are needed by September 2014.
However, the PAC argues that the rising demand for places is already causing pressure on schools in some areas.
It says that 76 per cent of local authorities have converted non-classroom space into classrooms and 64 per cent have reduced playground space. In some cases, schools have lost music rooms and libraries to create extra classrooms.
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