§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what discussions his Department has had with the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the closure of Condover Hall School; [134358]
(2) if he will list the schools in England which provide the same education services as Condover Hall School for multisensory-disabled children; [134359]
(3) what discussion his Department has had with Shropshire county council LEA regarding the closure of Condover Hall School; [134360]
(4) how many children are taught at Condover Hall School; [134361]
(5) how many teachers he estimates will lose their jobs when Condover Hall School closes;[134362]
(6) what provision is being made to continue the education of the children taught at Condover Hall School when it closes. [134363]
§ Margaret HodgeThere are many schools in England, approved to make provision for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties and severe learning74W difficulties which are able to provide services for multi-disabled pupils. We understand from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) that its school, Rushton Hall, provides education services very similar to those provided at Condover Hall. Other schools which provide services for mulit-sensory disabled children, but with different patterns of residential provision are: St. David's Unit at the West of England School, Exeter; and the Royal School for the Blind in Liverpool. Liden Lodge School in the London borough of Wandsworth is also developing support for multi-sensory disabled children.
Official at the DfES have had no discussions to date with Shropshire county council about the closure of Condover Hall School. We do of course stand ready to discuss the matter with any interested party, including local education authorities which currently make use of the school, if asked to do so.
Officials have however asked the RNIB to clarify its plans for the closure of Condover Hall School, and in particular to explain how the RNIB intends to ensure that appropriate and realistic plans for the placement of children currently attending the school are in place. We are currently awaiting a response.
Condover Hall School currently has 34 pupils of statutory school age. There are no primary age pupils. Six pupils are in year 13 and are due to leave school at the end of the summer term 2004. In addition there are 12 young adults, aged from 19–24, in the Adult Education Centre at Condover Hall School.
Condover Hall School currently has 11 teachers, including the Principal and Deputy Headteacher. Nine teachers are employed in the main school and two in the Adult Education Centre. RNIB has stated its intention of exploring opportunities for redeployment of staff currently employed at Condover Hall.
It will be for the home LEA of each child currently placed at Condover Hall to decide, based on the special educational needs of that child, the most suitable placement for them following the closure of the school.