HC Deb 19 January 1982 vol 16 cc138-9
3. Mr. Richard Page

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are taught in village schools; and how this compares with the figure for 1971.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. William Waldegrave)

The information requested by my hon. Friend is not kept by my Department. But, taking non-metropolitan English county primary schools with 50 or fewer pupils as a proxy, as most of these schools are in rural areas, there were 59,463 children in village schools in January 1981 compared with 56,860 in January 1975.

Mr. Page

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. I am disappointed to learn of the reduction. As village schools are, in my opinion—I am sure that my opinion is shared by the majority of hon. Members—the backbone of village life, what will my hon. Friend and his Department do to maintain village schools throughout the length and breadth of the country?

Mr. Waldegrave

I am sure that my hon. Friend is aware that a large part of the change reflects variations in the population. In the rate support grant formula and grant-related expenditure the Government have included a formula for sparseness in population, which makes a considerable difference. Circular 2/81 gives advice on the removal of school places and emphasises the importance of village schools.

Mr. Madel

When considering what to do with surplus schools or classrooms, should not local education authorities bear in mind their responsibilities for implementing the Government's "New Training Initiative"? Therefore, before taking any drastic decisions on the matter, should they not wait until the "New Training Initiative" is well under way?

Mr. Waldegrave

That is an additional element that local authorities will want to take into account.

Mr. Freud

Does the Minister accept the high quality of teaching in village schools? Will he bear in mind the small demands that graduates at small village schools make on the remedial teaching programme? Will he tell his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to be most careful before considering the closure of other schools in Cambridgeshire?

Mr. Waldegrave

My right hon. Friend takes great care in those matters. Recent interesting studies, carried out at Cambridge and at Aston university, show the strengths of village schools, although there are problems when the numbers in a school drop below 50.