HC Deb 10 December 1925 vol 189 cc663-4
58 Mr. PALING

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) what steps, if any, have been taken to provide a new elementary school in the Skellow district of the Adwick-le-Street urban area:

(2) how many children under five years of age are attending elementary schools in the borough of Doncaster and the urban districts of Bentley-with-Arksey and Adwiek-le-Street, respectively;

(3) how many places are provided in the elementary schools situate in the Garcroft and Skellow districts of the Adwick-le-Street urban district area; how many children are attending such schools; and how many children of school age are residing in the two districts'?

Lord E. PERCY

The public elementary schools in the Carcroft and Skellow district of Adwick-le-Street are recognised as providing accommodation for 1,507 children. The average number on the books for the year ended 31st March, 1925, the latest date for which figures are available, was 1,385, and the average attendance 1,198. I have no information as to the total number of children of school age residing in these two districts. Plans for a new school at Skellow to accommodate 1,040 children were approved by the Board in May last. The number of children under five years of age attending public elementary schools in the borough of Doncaster and in the urban districts of Bentley-with-Arksey and Adviek-le-Street was on the 31st March, 1925, 475. 149 and 88, respectively.

Mr. PALING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this proposed new school at Skellow has been promised for three years now, and that there has been a totally new village built since that, and does he think the prospects of getting this school have been improved by the issue of his circular?

Lord E. PERCY

As the school was approved last May, I should think it was already being built.

Mr. PALING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have had a letter this week complaining about it, and will he go down and attend a protest meeting that is being held because nothing has been done in the matter:

Lord E. PERCY

The hon. Gentleman had better, rather than attend a protest meeting, ask the local authority.

Mr. PALING

And tell them at the same time what you are doing, I suppose?