360 children on Westminster school waiting lists ‘because staff can’t cope’

12 April 2012

More than 360 children in Westminster do not have a school place because there are not enough council staff to cope with the workload, it was claimed today.

Labour councillors in Westminster called on Education Secretary Michael Gove to launch an inquiry into the "failings" of the council. It comes after the Standard revealed more than 4,000 children are on waiting lists for places in London schools.

Westminster council admitted that 364 children are without a school place because more than 400 families moved to central London in the past two months wanting school places.

Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group, said the backlog was due to the decision to cut the number of staff in the education department, adding: "The council is letting down some of the most vulnerable children."

Nickie Aiken, Westminster 's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The claims made about our education department are not true. The reality is that we have seen a sudden influx of new arrivals in Westminster, particularly via other EU countries."

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