HC Deb 06 July 1939 vol 349 cc1518-9W
Mr. David Adams

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education with regard to the plans for school buildings sanctioned during 1938, whether he will state the estimated cost of the building per school-child provided for and the estimated cost per class-room, together with comparable figures for the years 1936 and 1937?

Mr. Lindsay:

I presume that the hon. Member refers to public elementary and secondary schools. Following is a statement giving the numbers and accommodation and the average cost per place of new schools of each type completed or opened during the years in question. It is not possible to give the average cost per class-room, since class-rooms are not a separable item in the cost of the provision of a complete school, which, as the hon. Member knows, includes in most cases a hall, a gymnasium, rooms for special subjects and various other amenities, in addition to class-rooms.

of elementary school buildings in this country still in use which are over 40 years of age; and whether he is satisfied as to the suitability of such buildings for modern educational work?

Mr. Lindsay

The Board have no statistics on this matter, and it would involve much labour to compile them. Many school buildings now in use are not well suited to modem educational practice, being deficient particularly in free space for physical training and in the larger rooms needed for the more practical forms of instruction. Unsuitable buildings are being replaced, enlarged or improved as circumstances permit: in 1938 151 schools were closed and plans were approved for the enlargement or improvement of 835 other schools in addition to 190 new schools.