HC Deb 20 February 1958 vol 582 cc1370-1
11. Sir F. Medlicott

asked the Minister of Education how many grammar schools have been completed in England and Wales during each of the last five years; and how many of such schools are planned to be commenced during each of the next five years.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Since the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir F. Medlicott

As a great number of these schools have been built, is it not quite extraordinary that there should have been such delay, for more than a quarter of a century, in the rebuilding of Huish's Grammar School, which has just been mentioned and in which I must disclose an affectionate interest as an old boy?

Mr. Lloyd

I hope that my hon. Friend will take some comfort from the answers which I gave earlier on that subject, because he will be justified in doing so. It is interesting and satisfactory to note that during the last five years there has, broadly speaking, been a strong upward tendency in the numbers of new grammar schools built each year and also in the number of major extensions added to existing schools. For this coming year there will be about 30 new grammar schools and 100 major extensions.

Following is the information:

PROJECTS COMPLETED AT GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
Calendar Year New Schools Major extensions
1953 … … 5 24
1954 … … 16 24
1955 … … 14 19
1956 … … 26 31
1957 … … 37 46
98 144

On 31st December, 1957[...] 70 new schools and 48 major extensions were under construction. Between 1st January, 1958 and 31st March, 1959 about 30 new schools and 100 major extensions are likely to be started. Further forecasts would not be reliable.