§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the anticipated rate of decline in the secondary school population in Wales from 1979.
§ Mr. Barry JonesIt is estimated that the number of children at maintained secondary schools in Wales aged between 11 and 15 at the beginning of the school year will decline by 22 per cent. between 1979 and 1989 and will rise by about 25 per cent. between 1989 and 1999. The estimates necessarily become more speculative for the later period. It is not possible to make meaningful estimates of the number of secondary school pupils staying on beyond the statutory school age.