§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the number of children(a) of primary school age and (b) of secondary school age, who are currently without a school place (i) in total and (ii) as a result of exclusion. [18645]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisLocal education authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for pupils who cannot attend school. In January 1997 these arrangements covered 25,000 pupils, including some pupils who were dually registered at a Pupil Referral Unit and at another school. We estimate that around half of these children were out of school following an exclusion. The majority of such pupils are of secondary school age. Additionally, it has been estimated that around 10,000 children are educated otherwise than at school under arrangements made by their parents.