Record Number of Empty Primary School Places in England: 611,300 Unfilled Spots

A record 611,300 primary school places remain unfilled in England, revealing a significant decline in birth rates and educational demand, especially pronounced in London.

• The Institute for Government reports that 611,300 primary school places are unfilled for the 2023-24 academic year, accounting for 12% of total capacity in England.
• This years increase of nearly 34,000 empty spots in primary school education highlights a trend of declining birth rates affecting school enrollment across the country.
• London is experiencing a faster decline in primary school enrollment compared to other regions, as parents are leaving the area in search of different opportunities.