An extra 8,600 school places are being created by Surrey County Council as part of a five year programme to meet demand after a surge in birth rates.

The extra places feature in the school organisation plan discussed by members of the council’s cabinet on Tuesday, November 27.

The document, which is reviewed annually, sets out the likely demand for school places over the next decade and outlines what action could be taken to meet that demand.

Linda Kemeny, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “Surrey’s excellent schools are dedicated to providing children with the very best start in life. We’re experiencing an increase in demand for places following a 20 per cent rise in birth rates in the past decade.

“This increase in demand is set to continue in the coming years as Surrey’s population swells.

“We already have a programme in place to provide an extra 8,000 primary and 600 secondary places over five years and we’re working on plans to increase this further in the future.”