§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in England have(a) closed and (b) merged for each year since 1979, giving the totals for (i) primary, (ii) secondary and (iii) special schools. [15344]
§ Mr. Robin Squire[holding answer 15 February 1996]: This question could be answered in the form in which it is asked only at disproportionate cost.
In January 1979 there were 21,309 primary schools, 4,606 secondary schools and 1,489 special schools in the maintained sector. In January 1995 these figures had dropped to 18,551, 3,614 and 1,218 respectively.