§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which are the two schools for which he has, since 4 May, declined to approve proposals submitted under section 13 of the Education Act 1944 for cessation of maintenance by local education authorities; and, in each case, what were the grounds for his decision.
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§ Dr. BoysonThe two schools concerned were Spring Park upper school, Bromley and Park Street CE (aided) primary school, Cambridge.
In considering closure proposals generally, my right hon. and learned Friend has to weigh a whole series of factors—the fall in rolls in a particular area; the quality of education in the schools and in the alternative schools; the condition of the buildings; the savings to be made, the weight of objections; the value of the school to the community and other factors. He concluded in these cases that the balance lay in favour of rejection.