§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list showing, for each recent year, and for each set of proposals for the closure or amalgamation of schools that he has refused (a) the name of the local education authority, (b) the age 687W range of children concerned, (c) the date that the authority first considered the closure of any school identified for closure in the set of proposals, (d) the dates of public consultation on the proposals, (e) the date of receipt of the proposals by his Department, (f) the approximate number of children in the schools identified
LEA Proposal Date statutory proposal published Date rejected Wakefield Closure of Tithe Barn First School and change in the age range of ten other schools 20 October 1983 14 January 1985 Liverpool Closure of Blue Coat Secondary School 22 October 1984 12 March 1985 Lancashire Amalgation of Castle Secondary School and Greaves Secondary School 25 April 1984 20 February 1985 Staffordshire Closure of Weston Road High School 28 September 1984 4 April 1985 Merton Amalgamation of Eastfields High School, Willows High School and Rowan High School 5 July 1984 15 April 1985 ILEA Amalgamation of St. Edmunds Secondary School and St. Thomas More Secondary School 23 November 1984 12 August 1985 Nottinghamshire Closure of Merrivale Nursery School 12 September 1984 3 April 1985 Barnsley Amalgamation of St. Matthews Infant School and Kier Street Junior School 2 November 1984 13 May 1985 Wolverhampton Reorganisation of Secondary Schools: Closure of four schools including one grammar school and change age range of 10 schools to 11–16 from 11ߝ18 as well as establish two Tertiary Colleges 9 January 1985 25 November 1985 ILEA Amalgamation of Cardinal Manning Secondary School and Sion Manning Secondary School 23 November 1984 12 August 1985 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Closure of St. Mary's RC Primary School 13 January 1986 23 June 1986 Coventry Closure of Stivichall Junior School 21 June 1985 16 April 1986 Kirklees Amalgamation of Heckmondwike Grammar, Heckmondwike Secondary and Liversedge Secondary Schools 6 June 1985 9 May 1986 Gloucestershire Reorganisation of secondary schools in Gloucester City: closure of eleven schools including five grammar and establishment of six secondary schools 30 November 1984 24 March 1986 Avon Closure of Beechen Cliff Secondary School for Boys 10 September 1984 9 May 1986 Bolton Closure of Fourgates County Primary 23 August 1985 12 June 1986 Trafford Amalgamation of St. Mary's, Cardinal Vaughan and St. Paul's RC Secondary Schools 6 December 1985 17 September 1986 Dorset Amalgamation of Sherborne Lord Digby's and Sherborne Foster's Grammar Schools to form Sherborne Aldhelm's Secondary Modern 16 November 1984 25 March 1986 Gloucestershire Reorganisation of secondary schools in Stroud: Closure of five schools including two grammar schools and establishment of four comprehensive schools 15 November 1984 24 March 1986 Devon Reorganisation of comprehensive schools: closure of 12 and establishment of four secondary schools 19 March 1984 25 February 1986
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list showing for each set of proposals for the closure or amalgamation of schools that he is currently considering (a) the name of the local education authority, (b) the age range of children concerned, (c) the date that the authority first considered the closure of any school identified for closure in the set of proposals, (d) the date of public consultation on the proposals, (e) the date of receipt of the proposals by his Department and (f) the approximate number of children in the schools identified for closure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what number of sets of proposals for the closure or amalgamation of schools approved by him since the publication of "Better Schools," Cmnd. 9496, have not met the guidance given on minimum 688W for closure, (g) the date of refusal and (h) whether or not a replacement set of proposals has been approved subsequently; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnInformation is not available on(c), (d), (f) and (h). The following table gives the available information on closure or amalgamation proposals which were rejected by my right hon. Friend or his predecessor in 1985 and 1986.
size of schools contained in paragraphs 273 and 275; what number of such approvals there have been for primary schools; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what number of sets of proposals for the closure or amalgamation of schools approved by him since the publication of the 1981 circular "Falling Rolls and Surplus Places" have not met the guidance given on minimum size of schools, as repeated in paragraph 273 of "Better Schools" Cmnd. 9469; what number of such approvals there have been for primary schools; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information has been received by his Department in recent years regarding schemes for school closures or amalgamation as to (a) the length of time since the local education authority first considered any part of the scheme and (b) the effects and 689W consequences during that time on any school provisionally identified for closure, in particular changes in capital spending and pupil numbers; what studies have been made on any adverse effects which might occur during a lengthy period of uncertainty about the future of a school; what steps he has taken to mitigate any such effects and consequences; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnThe information at(a) and (b) is not available. It is for local education authorities to consider the timing and consequences of any statutory proposals for closing or amalgamating schools; no studies have been made of these matters. My right hon. Friend has given an undertaking that once proposals have been made he will use his best endeavours to reach a decision within six months of their publication unless there are exceptional circumstances.