§ Mr. PriorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have been notified to his Department as being subject to proposals for closure since 1 May 1997; and if he will indicate their size. [44490]
§ Mr. ByersStatutory proposals for the closure of 167 mainstream schools have been published since 1 May 1997. This figure includes 17 nursery schools. Of the closure proposals, 101 involved the amalgamation of schools to form new schools. The numbers of pupils on the rolls of the schools proposed for closure ranged from 1 to 980.