AN extra £15million of funding has been allocated to Hammersmith and Fulham council to provide more primary school places in the borough.
Last week secretary of state Michael Gove announced that more than 100 local authorities will receive a share of £500million to address the nationwide shortage of pupil places.
Mr Gove said there was an urgent need for places after the Office for National Statistics updated its projections for population growth last week which revealed that by 2020 there will be around 21 per cent more primary age children than in 2010.
This extra funding means that in 2011-12 more than £22million will be allocated to H&F to fund additional places.
This announcement has been welcomed by the council.
Cabinet member for children's services, councillor Helen Binmore, said: "One of the major priorities of this council has been the creation of Schools of Choice. More local children are being taught in Hammersmith and Fulham than ever before as standards are improving and three new schools have opened, ARK Conway Primary and two secondaries - the West London Free School and Hammersmith Academy. This is an exciting time for education in Hammersmith and Fulham and this grant is very welcome. Under our schools of choice programme this extra £15million will ensure that we can continue to meet the increasing demand for local primary school places from parents."
