§ Angela WatkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary age pupils are obliged to travel more than three miles to school; and how many did so in the school year before key stage 1 and 2 classes were limited to 30. [6656]
988W
§ Mr. TimmsMy Department does not keep figures of primary school children obliged to travel more than three miles to school. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has provided the following figures for all school journey lengths from its National Travel Survey.
Trips to school by length: age 5 to 10: 1998–2000 (latest years available) Percentage Under 1 mile 58 1 to under 2 miles 22 2 to under 3 miles 7 3 to under 5 miles 7 5 miles and over 6 Legislation to limit the size of infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds to 30 or fewer came into force in September. The limit does not extend to key stage 2 classes. In implementing the limit we have made it clear to local education authorities that no child should have to travel an unreasonable distance to school because of the class size limit.