HC Deb 29 January 2003 vol 398 cc868-9W
Jane Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on the disposal of a school playing field site for development, where the school has ceased to exist as a result of merger with an adjoining school. [93947]

Mr. Miliband

A local authority, governing body or foundation body must obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing of any playing field that has been used for the purposes of a maintained school within the preceding 10 years. This applies to both continuing and closed schools.

Applications to dispose of school playing fields are assessed against three main criteria. These are:

  1. (i) schools' needs: that playing field provision and curriculum requirements at the school making the disposal, and at other schools in the local area, will be met;
  2. (ii) community needs: that community use of school playing fields is taken into account, with alternative facilities made available if necessary; and
  3. (iii) finance: that any sale proceeds are re-invested to provide new or improved sports facilities at schools, or are used otherwise to help raise standards by providing better educational facilities.

The criteria are set out in the Department's Guidance 0580/2001: The Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for City Academies. The criteria enable the Secretary of State to take into account the team game playing field provision at other local schools. This is to ensure that where there are surplus fields at one school, other local schools are given the opportunity to use those surplus fields. The School Playing Fields Advisory Panel provides advice on the extent to which applications meet the published criteria. The Secretary of State has no influence over what happens to a school playing field once consent has been given to its disposal. Any future development is a matter for the local planning authorities.