HC Deb 20 April 1972 vol 835 cc147-9W
Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of classes in secondary schools in Staffordshire has 30 or more pupils; and how this figure compares with the previous two years.

Mr. van Straubenzee

The percentage of classes "as taught" with 31 or more pupils was:

January, 1969 … … 24.5
January, 1970 … … 24.5
January, 1971 … … 23.4

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of classes in primary schools in Staffordshire with 40 or more pupils.

Mr. van Straubenzee

In January, 1971, 169 classes with 41 or more pupils.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent on primary school building in Staffordshire in each of the last 10 years; how many primary schools were built in Staffordshire in each of these years; and what the comparable figures are for England and Wales as a whole.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Expenditure over this period on primary schools in England and Wales as a whole is not readily available. The remaining information requested is:

PRIMARY SCHOOL MAJOR PROJECTS
Expenditure (£000) Schools Built
Year Stafford- shire Stafford-shire England and Wales
1961–62 … 464 10 252
1962–63 … 638 12 286
1963–64 … 482 9 313
1964–65 … 919 18 408
1965–66 … 642 13 368
1966–67 … 605 12 479
1967–68 … 783 15 611
1968–69 … 654 11 777
1969–70 … 941 17 543
1970–71 … 594 7 581

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children attended schools in Staffordshire in June, 1970; what proportion she estimates took school dinners; what proportion of those taking school dinners had free dinners; and how these figures compare with the most recently available figures.

Mr. van Straubenzee

No figures are available for June, 1970, but on a day in September 1970, 117,530 pupils attended maintained schools in Staffordshire; 67.6 per cent. of these took the school dinner and 9.3 per cent. of those received it free of charge. Corresponding figures for October 1971, the latest available, were 123,153; 57.6 per cent. and 13.4 per cent.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the new school building projects either under construction or expected to start in the present financial year in Staffordshire.

1973 Mr. van Straubenzee

Major school building projects in Staffordshire are:

Under Construction in April

Aldridge, Brownhills Comprehensive School. Burntwood, Oakdene County Primary School. Blythe Bridge, Aclamthwaite Drive Primary. Tamworth, Glascote Comprehensive School.

Aldridge, Brownhills, Streetly Comprehensive School.

Cannock, Blake Secondary School.

Barton under Needwood, John Taylor Comprehensive School.

Great Wyrley Secondary School.

Penkridge Wolgarston Secondary School.

Lichfield North Comprehensive School.

Kidsgrove Clough Hall Comprehensive School.

Burntwood, The Ridgway Junior School.

Gnosall, St. Lawrence C/E Junior School.

Brownhills, St. Bernadette's R.C. Infants' School.

Lichfield, The Dimbles, St. Peter's and St.Paul's R.C Primary.

Codsall, St. Christopher's R.C. Primary School.

Tean, Greatwood Primary School.

Kidsgrove, Dove Bank Primary School.

Brownhills County Comprehensive School.

Codsall Secondary School.

Wombourne, Ounsdale County Comprehensive School.

Blythe Bridge County Secondary School.

Tamworth, Glascote Infants' School.

Newcastle, Silverdale, St. Luke's C/E Primary School.

Newcastle, Wolstanton C/E Primary School.

Rolleston, Forest of Needwood Secondary School.

Stafford, Walton Comprehensive School.

Streetly Middle School.

Rugeley, St. Joseph's R.C. Primary School.

Burntwood, Elder Lane Primary School.

Kidsgrove, Maryhill Comprehensive School.

Expected to Start before 1st April

Ladywood Junior School.

Moat Hall Middle School.

Cheslyn Hay Middle School.

Belgrave Middle School.

Great Wyrley, St. Thomas More R.C. Primary School.

Stafford, Baswich Primary.

Kinver, Foley Junior School.

Tamworth, Amington Junior and Infants' School.

Stafford, Barnfield Primary School.

Lichfield, Burntwood County Primary School.

Werrington County Primary School.

Rugeley, Fair Oak Comprehensive School.

Rugeley, Hagley Park Comprehensive School.

Rugeley, Aelfgar Comprehensive School.

Aldridge, Brownhills Comprehensive School.

Aldridge, Pelsall Secondary School.

Cannock, Cardinal Griffin R.C. Secondary School.

Uttoxeter, Alleynes Grammar School.

Biddulph County Secondary School.

Stafford County Secondary School.

Wombourne County Secondary School.

Cannock County Secondary School.

Leek and Moorlands County Secondary School.

Stone, Christchurch C/E Middle School.

Cheadle, Mackenzie Secondary School.

Newcastle under Lyme County Secondary School.

Great Wyrley Secondary School.

Biddulph, Knypersley Hall County Secondary School.