Kingston schools are waiting to see if they will receive a slice of £500m for school building announced this week.

Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove told MPs on Tuesday, July 19, the money would help local authorities hit by high birth rates to provide extra schools places.

Extra bulge classes have been needed at Kingston primary schools since September 2008.

However, Government funding for a new secondary school was withdrawn 12 months ago, and the council pulled the plug on phase two of its primary school expansion programme partly because of lack of funds.

Edward Davey MP and Zac Goldsmith MP have joined councillors in lobbying ministers for funds, but until now none had been made available.

Councillor Liz Green, executive member for education, said: “I’m sure we will get some of it. £500m for those with these pressures is an awful lot, but when you think our one secondary needs £35m it does not build that many schools, and we are not alone in having that problem.”

Mr Gove said details of how allocations will be made will be provided over the summer and finalised in the autumn.