§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many times over the last five years he has used statutory powers to take direct action to close schools. [99272]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThere has been only one occasion in the last five years where the Secretary of State has used legislative powers to take direct action to close a school, and that was under the previous Government. The then Secretary of State made an order under the 1993 Education Act to close Hackney Downs School with effect from 31 December 1995.
Where necessary, the Secretary of State will take direct action to improve the education of children in failing schools; he has the power under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to direct that a school in special measures be closed. No school will be allowed to linger in failure. Where schools cannot be improved enough to come off special measures within two years they should be closed or given a "Fresh Start".
Since May 1997, 82 schools in special measures have been closed, following approval of proposals made by local education authorities; of which eight have been replaced by new "Fresh Start" schools, and 379 schools have been removed from special measures having been restored to health.