HC Deb 12 July 1968 vol 768 cc138-9W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what encouragement he will give to schools, sharing new facilities with surrounding communities, in accordance with the recent proposals by Professor Vaizey and Sir Leslie Martin, details of which are in his possession; and what pioneering schemes in this direction are now in progress.

Mr. Edward Short

I am strongly in favour of this approach.

A circular issued in 1964 by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and my Department drew to the attention of local authorities the advantages which could be obtained from the joint planning and financing of facilities to serve both the needs of schools and the surrounding communities. Guidance on designing certain types of accommodation for dual use has been given in Building Bulletins and my Department is co-operating with two local education authorities in the planning of comprehensive schools which will include a variety of facilities for shared use by the schools and the general public. It is intended to offer further advice to authorities on schemes of this kind later this year.

Most secondary schools and many primary schools are already used for community purposes outside school hours; the following is a list of schemes known to the Department, in which local education authorities, other local authorities and voluntary bodies are co-operating in joint arrangements:

  • Cumberland, Egremont, Wyndham County Secondary School (completed September, 1964).
  • Workington, Moorclose School (completed September, 1967).
  • Leicestershire, Lutterworth Secondary School (completed August, 1966).
  • Nottinghamshire, Bingham County Secondary School (under construction).
  • Nottinghamshire, Worksop County Secondary School (under construction).
  • Nottinghamshire, Carlton County Secondary School (under construction).
  • Shropshire, Dawley New Town, Madeley Woodside Comprehensive Secondary School (planned for completion by December, 1970).

A number of other schemes are at various stages of preparation or are under discussion.