§ Andrew SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to require small schools to have a minimum number of pupils. [186476]
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§ Mr. MilibandWe have no plans to require small schools to have a minimum number of pupils.
Decisions on proposed changes to schools, including opening and closing, are taken by each area's local School Organisation Committee, or an independent schools adjudicator, and the Department's guidance makes clear that they must not assume a school must be of a certain size to be a good school. LEAs have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient and efficient school provision in their area and we will expect them to take parental preferences into account in their planning process. LEAs must also ensure that each area offers high quality education in a cost effective way.
School name Reason for opening Herman Community Primary School Amalgamation of Herman First and Herman Middle School Peterhouse Community Primary School Amalgamation of Peterhouse First and Peterhouse Middle School Martham Foundation Primary School Amalgamation of Martham First School and Nursery and West Flegg Middle School Belton Voluntary Community Primary School Amalgamation of Waveney First School and Breydon Middle School Proposals for the new schools were approved by the local School Organisation Committee on 6 December 2002 and they are due to open this coming September.
Plans for any future organisation of schools are a matter for the local authority.