Croydon is to receive more than £12m of Government funds to help it cope with a surge in primary school applications.
An extra 600 reception places are needed in the borough by September 2011, with 17 schools identified as having a need for extra provision.
Council plans to open a new school on the site of the old Selhurst Boys High will provide 90 places, with the rest being added as 30-pupil classroom additions to existing schools.
More than 400 temporary places were created by the council in 2009 to cope with rising numbers, although it estimates the 17 extra forms needed by September 2011 will be a peak.
Lobbying body London Councils welcomed the Government cash boost, which totalled £271m throughout London, but warned the money would “not be anywhere near enough” to meet the shortfalls in the capital.
The group estimates London faces a shortfall of more than 50,000 places over the next seven years at a cost of approximately £880m.
Councillor Nick Stanton, London Councils’ member for children and young people said: “While we are delighted for the boroughs who have won a share of this funding, this crisis is by no means over - we have waited over five months for the details of this funding and in that time the situation has become far worse.
“We need the government to accept how extreme this crisis is in the capital and provide us with a far greater slice of funding.
“London’s children deserve better than temporary classrooms and expanded class sizes. The government must recognise this and support us accordingly.”
Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks said: “Because of the rising school population, we need more primary school places in Croydon and I have been urging Labour Ministers to do more.
“They have been sympathetic and I am now very pleased that £12.8m has been allocated to Croydon Council to meet this rising demand.
“This shows that Government is listening and it is a good news story for local parents and children.”
Croydon Central MP Andrew Pelling said he was very pleased the funding had been awarded to Croydon and had been asking questions about the issue in Parliament.
Schools being considered for expansion
• All Saints Infants and Juniors, Upper Norwood
• Beaumont, Purley (10 places only)
• Byron, Coulsdon
• Gonville, Thornton Heath
• Kensington Avenue, Norbury
• St James the Great, Thornton Heath
• St John’s, Shirley
• St Mary’s, Croydon
• St Peter’s, South Croydon
• Smitham, Coulsdon
• Kingsley, Croydon
• Monks Orchard, Shirley
• Park Hill Infants and Juniors, Croydon
• Purley Oaks, South Croydon
• Spring Park, West Wickham
• Whitehorse Manor Infants and Juniors, Thornton Heath
• The Hayes, Kenley (15 places only)
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