Surplus places may threaten schools

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The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has commissioned a review which will look at whether money can be saved by removing surplus places, the Guardian newspaper said.

The review, which has been ordered jointly with the Audit Commission, will also consider if secondary schools should have a minimum number of pupils.

The newspaper says one in 10 secondary schools has more than 25% surplus places.

The latest figures available on the DCSF website say that, on January 1, 2006 there were 244,111 surplus secondary school places in England, as well as 513,512 in primary schools.

The website says: "Overall pupil numbers are now in decline.

"The decline in births since 1990 has resulted in fewer pupils in maintained nursery and primary schools since 1999 and fewer pupils in maintained secondary schools since 2004.

"Between 1994 and 1999, surplus places in primary schools fell by 23%. Since 1999, the number has steadily increased.

"In secondary schools, surplus places steadily decreased from 14% of total capacity in 1994 to 6% in 2004. However, the last couple of years have seen a slight increase to 7%."

A spokesman for the DCSF was not able to confirm if a review had been commissioned but added that the rise in surplus secondary places is "something that we are aware of".