Two schools in Elmbridge are among those benefitting from a £820m pot to create an extra 417,000 school places across the country.

Esher Church of England High School and St Alban’s Catholic Primary School will both see an increase in places available by 2015.

Another 12 schools across Surrey will also benefit from Surrey County Council’s share of the funding.

David Laws, the minister of state for schools, announced on Thursday, July 18, the outcome of applications to the Targeted Basic Need programme.

The programme, which was launched in March, will provide additional funding for school places in areas where they are most needed.

Councils were able to bid for a share of the funding for new schools or to expand existing outstanding and good schools.

In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Laws said: “The number of pupils in England will continue to rise and ensuring that every child is able to attend an outstanding or good school in their local area is at the heart of the government’s comprehensive programme of reform of the school system.

“We will continue to set up free schools where there is both demand from parents and where they can make the biggest difference to local provision through addressing basic need and improving the quality of local schools.”

Linda Kemeny, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for schools and learning, said: “This is welcome news and we’re pleased the government was persuaded by our case.

“We have experienced a big rise in demand for places at our excellent schools and this surge is continuing, which is why we have embarked on Surrey’s biggest ever expansion programme to create the 16,000 places we need to find to ensure every child gets the best possible education.”

The programme will help Surrey County Council to create an extra 2,300 school places across the county.