§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many rural schools have closed in each year since 1997. [165588]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Department does not have reliable data on the number of rural school closures in England for individual years before 1998. The number of rural small schools approved for closure from 1998, when the presumption against closure of rural schools was introduced in England, is as follows:
Year No. 1998 5 1999 2 2000 2 2001 3 2002 5 2003 12 2004 6 In 2003 a new, wider, definition of rural was introduced with the result that the proportion of schools in England classified as rural has increased.
The Secretary of State's guidance makes clear that there should be a presumption against the closure of rural schools. This does not mean that no rural school should ever close, but the case for closure should be strong and the proposals clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area.