The equivalent of thousands of new schools may be needed after official estimates showed that the pupil population will rise by 1m within the next decade. Data published by the Department for Education showed that the number of children in the state system will top 8m by 2021 – the highest number in 50 years. The Daily Telegraph 22/03/13.  “This is true of  several primary schools in Preston West which will need to expand their intake in the next year or two”, says  Bill Winlow.  “What a pity the Labour Party cut school places by about 200,000 during its time in office, even though it knew that this was likely to happen”