Figures obtained by The Times from 27 local authorities in England, spanning areas from South Gloucestershire to Hull, reveal there are no spaces available in some year groups to enrol children leaving the independent school sector as a result of Labour’s VAT raid on school fees, the Independent has reported.

Years 7 and 8 are the most problematical, with 20 councils reporting no capacity for Year 7 pupils, and 13 reporting no capacity for Year 8. Nottinghamshire is the worst affected, needing 468 extra Year 7 places.

Councils including Trafford, Warrington, and Sutton are already oversubscribed in primary year groups such as Years 5 and 6.

The government estimates that the tax changes could dislodge 37,000 pupils from the private sector, with 35,000 expected to seek a place in a state schools.

Though the government maintains there are enough state school spaces available, as Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said: “There might not be the right spaces, in the right places, for children whose education is disrupted by this policy.”