Rural Schools and Colleges

HC Deb 26 June 2001 vol 370 cc65-6W

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools and colleges in rural areas have closed in each of the last five years. [64]

Mr. Timms

The table shows the number of schools in rural areas approved for closure in each of the last five years.

	Number
1997	4
1998	5
1999	2
2000	2
2001	0

Although a number of governing bodies of further education colleges in rural areas have been dissolved, in each case the educational provision has continued by arrangement with another institution in the further or higher education sector.