§ 13. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest figure for the number of schools that have closed between May 1979 and the present, or for whose closure he has given his approval.
§ Dr. BoysonBetween 1 May 1979 and 28 February 1983 approval was given for the closure of 426 primary and 162 secondary schools. In addition, local authorities have determined proposals for 89 primary and 15 secondary schools in accordance with section 12(7) of the Education Act 1980.
§ Mr. BennettIs there not a danger that, just as most local authorities complete the closure of substantial numbers of schools, there will be a demand to open new ones? The Minister should look at the increasing number of people within the 18 to 21 age group. It does not take much imagination to appreciate that there is likely to be an increasing number of children in primary schools within the next 10 years, and in secondary schools within the next 15 years?
§ Dr. BoysonThe birth rate picked up in 1980, but it began to fall again last year. There are no signs at present that it is increasing. It needs more than imagination to increase the birth rate.
§ Mr. LyellDoes my hon. Friend agree that it is important to face the problems of school closures, bearing in mind the rapidly falling number of pupils in schools? Does he agree that it is much better to grasp the nettle now and put pupils into the right number of schools of the right size, rather than to let them rattle about in understaffed schools with artificial pupil-teacher ratios?
§ Dr. BoysonI agree with my hon. and learned Friend. I do not like children rattling around in half-empty schools. I believe that that does happen in many cases with the falling birth rate. There are schools that are only one third or half full. Teachers are withdrawn from them and they do not have full curricula. If they are not in isolated rural areas, consideration should be given to amalgamations or closures of such schools.