MORE than 3,500 extra school places have been created in Surrey this year to meet a growth in demand from rising birth rates.

Schools had space for 3,549 extra pupils when they opened last week after the summer break – the equivalent of eight brand new two-form entry primaries.

It brings the total number of places created over the past five years to 13,014 – with a further 13,000 needed over the next five years.

No new places were created in Farnham this year following an unexpected dip in the number of parents applying for reception places in the town last May.

However, 116 new spaces were created in Farnham for the previous academic year (2014/15) and further investment is expected at schools including William Cobbett Primary and Heath End secondary schools in coming years.

Following this week’s announcement, Surrey County Council said the new places are part of the biggest school expansion in the county’s history but repeated a warning that it faces a funding shortfall of £3m in the next two years alone to provide the places the county needs in future.

Linda Kemeny, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for schools, said: “We’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure an additional 3,500 children can go to Surrey schools but it is getting harder and harder to find the funds we need to meet the growth in demand.

“At a time when the council’s finances are also under huge strain from spiralling demand for elderly care, we are pressing the Government for a fairer deal on funding for school places.”

The 3,549 places have been created at 45 different schools – 43 primary and two secondary.

Mrs Kemeny added: “We have worked very hard to ensure every child who needs a school place gets one and we will continue to do this.

“By 2020 we need to create another 13,000 places but face a funding shortfall of £30m in each of the next two years alone and we are urging the Government to recognise this.”