§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education in the calculation of teaching space per pupil place in secondary schools, what add-on factor of space he requires to permit teaching of small classes or groups, minimum movement of staff or pupils, and flexibility in construction of the timetable.
§ Mr. ForthThe requirements as to minimum teaching area in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 apply to the school as a whole based on the number and age of the pupils. The only specific requirement for the disposition of this area relates to study and social accommodation for pupils who have attained the age of 16. The details of the organisation of the teaching area are a matter for the school. No minimum area standard is 23W specified for the movement of staff or pupils but the regulations do require that school buildings shall be adequate for the "convenient passage of persons".
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will state the current area of floor space now constituting a place within each primary and secondary school, respectively, together with the minimum areas he expects or requires to be allocated to teaching, circulation, assembly, kitchen and eating, staff, storage, and convenience or other non-teaching space, as an actual proportion of floor space for both categories of school.
§ Mr. ForthThe minimum teaching areas for maintained and grant-maintained schools are set out in schedule 4 of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. They are related to the number and age of pupils in the school. There are no statutory minimum area requirements for circulation, assembly, kitchen and eating, staff, storage or other non-teaching space, which are a matter for local discretion, subject to the general requirements of the regulations.