§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters he has received about the proposed closure of Burnham grammar school; and how many of these have been returned to the sender.
§ Mr. DunnSection 12 of the Education Act 1980 requires local education authorities to publish notices of their intention to cease to maintain a school and provides for objections to such proposals to be made to the education authority in the two months following publication. Of 65 letters so far received by my right hon. Friend about the proposed closure of Burnham grammar school, 17 were objections made within the statutory period of notice: these were returned to the senders with an explanatory letter recommending them to address their objections to the local education authority. Copies of the correspondence were retained.
In considering the authority's proposals for Burnham school my right hon. Friend will take careful account of the points made by all objectors.