Lewisham pushes Ladywell Fields College primary plan

The Mayor of Lewisham has given approval to consult on proposals with to add junior school places in 2013 by extending provision at Prendergast Ladywell Fields College, Crofton Park, so that it becomes an all-age school offering two forms of entry in the primary phase.

This is part of Lewisham's strategy to accommodate a bulge in pupil numbers, which is putting severe pressure on school places. A mini baby boom occurred in the borough and if Lewisham was relying on the traditional exodus of parents to other parts of the country or to private schools, neither has materialised.

The Economist [client] reports that this problem is not unique to Lewisham. Boroughs across the capital are experiencing similar anguish over school places and cafe territorialism:

London imports the young and exports the old, the theory goes—or went... But a startling demographic change has drastically slowed the conveyor belt...

London contributed fully 37% of England’s natural population increase between 2009 and 2010. Many parents are now staying put, thanks to a sticky mortgage market that makes it hard for buyers to get a loan and a sticky labour market that makes it hard for anyone to be sure of a job... Net outflows to the rest of Britain are half what they were in 2005... 
Primary schools have been the first to cry havoc... By 2015-16 greater London will need around 70,000 more school places, London Councils says.