Kingston has been handed out nearly £4.5m to create extra school places.

The Government has awarded a grant of £4,478,921 to the borough to address its school places crisis.

The Department for Education made the announcement yesterday.

Politcians in Kingston welcomed the news.

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Conservative Councillor Andrea Craig

Councillor Andrea Craig, lead member for children, youth and adult learning, said: "This is fantastic news for Kingston families.

"Kingston has some of the best schools in the country and, like all boroughs in London, we face challenges with more parents moving into the borough and future proposed developments.

"This grant, alongside the spending we already have planned, will help us to expand more schools in the right areas and will go a long way towards ensuring that every parent who wants a school place for their child in the years to come will have one."

The grant aims to plan for and deliver school places 36 months in advance.

Last year Kingston Council missed out on the chance to build a primary school after the Planning Inspectorate ruled in favour of land acquisition company Goldcrest who hoped to build student flats.

Free schools Kingston Academy and Kingston Community School are expected to open in September - the latter at a temporary site.

Gem Surbiton Primary Academy is also due to open the following year.

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Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey 

But Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey said: “I believe that Kingston needs three to four new primary schools by the end of the decade.

“This money is a fantastic opportunity and we need to make sure that it is used properly.

“There is a case for expanding existing primary schools, for example Knollmead in Tolworth could be expanded however I don’t think you are going to meet the demand unless new schools are built.”