One in three free school requests are for London

A total of 81 groups have applied to set up new free schools in London next year.

It means almost 30 per cent of all applications across Britain are from people in the capital.

Speaking at the think tank Policy Exchange, Education Secretary Michael Gove said he was "in a hurry" to get new schools open and described the speed at which they were appearing as "remarkable".

Today's figures show that 281 groups have applied to open up their own free schools in 2012. Experts say the shortage of good places in London is driving the demand in the capital.

Rachel Wolf, from the New Schools Network, which advises groups on the process, said: "We have had an enormous interest from parents and teachers in London. Many of the groups are responding to a lack of any local school. Many others are responding to parents in areas of depravation and low attainment."

Up to 20 free schools could open this September in England when final building and funding plans are agreed. In London, three will definitely take pupils in the new academic year - the West London free school in Hammersmith, Eden Primary in Haringey and St Luke's primary school in Camden. An additional five are hoping to open.

Kerstyn Comley from Tower Hamlets has applied to open Wapping High School in September next year. The bid is supported by Helen Mirren. Pupils at the school who arrive without speaking English would be given intensive English and Maths lessons for 18 hours a week.

The school would also provide children with extra-curricular activities they might not have experienced, such as journalism, choirs and polo teams.

Kerstyn Comley said there was a need for a comprehensive, inclusive co-educational secondary school, adding that the area had some of the highest levels of child poverty in England.