Figures published by public sector-owned built environment specialist Scape Group suggest that 14,500 extra secondary school classrooms are needed by 2020 – or 435,646 school places.
It recommends that the government develop a national strategy that brings together the Department of Education, local authorities and the industry to help meet the challenge.
“A collaborative approach between public and private sectors and local and central government is key to bridging the school capacity gap,” said Scape chief executive Mark Robinson.
The government is currently progressing its Priority School Building Programme, but has so far only provided on round of privately financed batches, with hopes of more later in the pipeline.