As many as four new secondary schools are needed to address an ‘unprecedented deficit’ of year seven places expected to hit Waltham Forest in 2017.

In a meeting of the council’s cabinet this week it was suggested that if schools are not built over the next eight years there will be hundreds of children unable to be educated in the borough.

Existing schools for teens will also be expanded at an estimated cost of £20m - £30m.

A report presented by Councillor Mark Rusling, Portfolio Lead Member for Children and Young People told councillors that although they have not previously used cash from other areas for school provision, they may now be forced to.

He said: “The increases in the birth rate and net inward migration, which have resulted in increases in primary rolls since 2007 will start to dramatically affect the demand for secondary provision in Waltham Forest.

“The need for new places can only be met by the provision of new schools. It is anticipated that we will need one new secondary school in Waltham Forest by 2017/18 a further two by 2019/20 and a further one by September 2022.

“Several London authorities have had to draw on other council reserves to top up any shortfall in cost. So far Waltham Forest have not done this, but it is clear that the costs of expanding existing provision or providing a new school cannot be met from existing Basic Need allocations.”

All new schools will be ‘free schools’.