The Government has awarded funding for 2,096 new secondary school places in Barking and Dagenham.

The council sent an application for £36million to the Department for Education’s Targeted Basic Need Programme, set up this year to provide additional funding for schools in areas where they are most needed.

The announcement of the bid being successful means at least two schools can be expanded to meet the growing demand for places.

But the council says this is still short of the money needed.

Cllr Rocky Gill, deputy council leader, said: “We welcome the announcement as the funding will help us to expand at least two popular and successful secondary schools.

“We need about £50m in total each year to secure sufficient places for our children and young people as our school population is forecast to continue to rise at least until 2020.

“This council will continue to campaign for the resources it needs so that our children and young people have high quality accommodation.”