LIB DEMS REVEAL UP TO 2500 SCHOOLS THREATENED WITH CLOSURE BY THE GOVERNMENT

9.07.00pm GMT Tue 5th Feb 2008

Lorely Burt MP has joined parliamentary colleagues in raising concerns over the future of many primary schools in England. Figures released by the Liberal Democrats show that up to 2,500 English primary schools are at risk from government policies that oblige local authorities to close schools with surplus places.

The figures come from a parliamentary answer showing that 2,489 primary schools have 25% or more surplus places.

A recent government directive sent to local authorities said that councils would only get extra money for new primary schools if they had decisive plans to ensure that no school has more than a quarter surplus places. [Figures]

Figures for Solihull reveal that 10 primary schools have 25% or more surplus places.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"At the same time as ministers offering public reassurance about school closures, they are privately issuing instructions to local authorities to close schools and reduce places - backed by the threat of withholding money for new buildings. Local authorities are being put in an impossible position: being instructed to close schools and reduce places.

"Whilst I am unaware of any individual primary school in Solihull under immediate threat, this is just one more example of ministers saying one thing and doing another - all at a time when the borough is receiving one of the lowest education grant settlements in the entire country."