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14 Oct 2008 : Column 1128W—continued

Primary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools were closed or merged in each year since 1997. [226436]

Jim Knight: The following table sets out the number of primary maintained mainstream schools which have closed or merged each year under local decision-making arrangements, which were introduced in September 1999. Information held on proposals that were decided under the arrangements that operated prior to September 1999 is not reliable and has therefore been excluded.

Reason for closure	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Total
Cease to Maintain	9	20	20	24	32	27	35	38	38	243
Due to Amalgamation	92	168	172	170	180	208	208	245	160	1,603
For an Academy	—	—	—	—	3	—	—	6	5	14
Fresh Start	6	1	1	2	3	5	2	2	—	22
Add or Change Religious Character	—	2	3	7	4	6	2	1	—	25
New Establishment	—	2	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	3
Total	107	193	196	203	223	246	247	292	203	1,910
Note: The table includes the reasons for closure. The numbers shown in the row headed ‘Cease to Maintain’ indicate closures where the schools have not been replaced by new schools. In all other cases, a replacement school will have been established (sometimes on the site of a closing school), or an amalgamating school altered, to accommodate displaced pupils.

Primary Education: Class Sizes

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of primary school pupils were being educated in schools with more than 500 pupils in each year since 1997. [226438]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The requested information is given in the table.

14 Oct 2008 : Column 1129W

14 Oct 2008 : Column 1130W

Maintained primary schools( 1) : Number (headcount) of pupils in primary schools with more than 500 pupils( 2) —position in January each year 1997 to 2008—England
	Number of pupils in primary schools	Number of primary schools	Number of primary schools with more than 500 pupils	Percentage of primary schools with more than 500 pupils	Number of pupils in primary schools with more than 500 pupils	Percentage of primary schools with more than 500 pupils
1997	4,429,043	18,392	536	2.9	310,747	7.0
1998	4,460,646	18,312	556	3.0	324,357	7.3
1999	4,460,171	18,234	577	3.2	338,372	7.6
2000	4,435,346	18,158	570	3.1	336,932	7.6
2001	4,406,215	18,069	597	3.3	352,966	8.0
2002	4,363,343	17,985	582	3.2	343,788	7.9
2003	4,309,034	17,861	539	3.0	320,289	7.4
2004	4,252,540	17,762	514	2.9	306,438	7.2
2005	4,204,496	17,642	503	2.9	301,253	7.2
2006	4,148,951	17,504	487	2.8	293,394	7.1
2007	4,107,676	17,361	476	2.7	289,678	7.1
2008	4,087,786	17,205	482	2.8	295,065	7.2
(1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. Source: School Census

Primary Education: Gloucestershire

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which primary schools in Gloucestershire have fewer than 50 pupils. [225430]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The requested information is given in the table.

Maintained primary schools: schools with fewer than 50 pupils (headcount): As at January 2008. Gloucestershire local authority
School Name	Estab number	Headcount of pupils( 1)
Withington Church of England Primary School	3352	14
Joys Green Primary School	2078	15
Monkscroft Community Primary School	2182	17
Bibury Church of England Primary School	3019	32
Oakridge Parochial School	3310	32
Didbrook Primary School	2087	34
Swell Church of England Primary School	3071	36
Ashleworth Church of England Primary School	3086	37
Toddington Primary School	2100	39
Down Ampney Church of England Primary School	3087	39
Longborough Church of England Primary School	3045	40
Redbrook Church of England Primary School	3054	40
Sherborne Church of England Primary School	3067	41
Siddington Church of England Primary School	3089	43
Pauntley Church of England Primary School	3060	46
Clearwell Church of England Primary School	3053	48
Christ Church Church of England Primary School	3314	48
Hillesley Church of England Primary School	3367	48
Southrop Church of England Primary School	3070	49
(1) Excludes dually registered pupils. Source: School Census

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