HC Deb 20 July 1911 vol 28 cc1280-1
Mr. HIGHAM

asked the President of the Board of Education if he had received a petition, signed by about 1,500 ratepayers of Chorley and stating their case for the erection of a council school; and if he had arranged for an inquiry to be held?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)

Petitions, purporting to be signed by about 1,300 ratepayers and householders in favour of the erection of a council school, have been received by the Board. These, with other petitions on the same subject, are now under consideration. No necessity for holding an inquiry has yet arisen.

Mr. SILVESTER HORNE

asked if a Wesleyan school was to be closed at Chorley, and, if so, what would be the reduction of school places in the borough; and what steps were being taken to provide adequate council school accommodation for the children in question??

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The Board have provisionally fixed the 30th September, 1912, as the date on which the recognition of the Wesleyan School at Chorley will terminate. The school has recognised accommodation for 404 children. The average attendance, according to the latest returns, is 326. The Board communicated their decision to the local education authority little more than a week ago and requested them to give early consideration to the needs of the case.