Official figures have demonstrated the growing pressure on primary school places that is taking hold in London.

Highlighted by the London Evening Standard, the data reveals that the number of children applying for primary school places in London has passed 100,000 for the first time ever, reaching 102,441 this year.

This represents a three per cent increase on the 2013 figure of 99,107 four-year-olds seeking places in London primary schools, with industry experts seeing no signs that this pace of growth will slow in the foreseeable future.

Escalating demand for primary school places is having a number of negative knock-on effects of parents. For instance, in Lambeth just over 21 per cent of pupils are expected to miss out on their first-choice schools this year, up from 18 per cent in 2013. Meanwhile, around eight per cent are likely to miss out on all of their top three preferences.

It is also reducing the quality of teaching that educators are able to provide, with many establishments being forced to introduce "bulge classes" and utilise temporary facilities to accommodate the excess number of pupils they are being assigned.

Many mothers are also having to plan further and further ahead to maximise their chances of securing a primary school place for their children, with some starting their forward planning before they have even given birth.

A survey by Netmums recently revealed that more than one-fifth of the 1,051 people questioned had bought a house closer to their favoured school, while a further 17 per cent had rented a property nearby.

Helen Jenner, chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, said: "London boroughs are working with local schools to ensure each child has a school place for the start of term. The increasing demand for places coupled with the popularity of the capital's schools means this is becoming increasingly challenging."

Between 2012 and 2013, UK, pupil numbers grew by almost 100,000, with many councils calling for more powers to create new primary school teaching jobs to help alleviate some of the pressure.

Posted by Darryl Mydat