MPs question government’s ability to provide new school places

MPs have questioned “how much of a grip” the Department for Education has on providing school places when needed in England, the BBC has reported.

According to the Public Accounts Committee, the system is “increasingly incoherent and too often poor value for money”

In addition to this, the committee believes that the government is spending “well over the odds” on free schools, despite there being existing schools in a poor condition.

However, ministers say that free schools are needed in order to meet the demand for school places and the government has pledged to open 500 more.

They will be state-funded and independently run, and there are plans for a further 110 by 2020.

The MPs' investigation builds on a National Audit Office report in February which said billions were being spent on free schools while many existing school buildings were are not at an appropriate standard.

The NAO said this was a "significant risk to long-term value for money".

The MPs agree that having enough school places in safe, high-quality buildings, where they are needed, is crucial.