[holding answer 3 March 2008]: The Department commissioned an international research review in 2004 on the impact of secondary school size on student, teacher and school outcomes. The research was conducted by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating (EPPI) Centre at the Institute of Education, University of London on behalf of the Department. The research found no consistent relationship between the size of the school and pupil outcomes and was based mainly on studies from the US. The Department has not commissioned research to investigate the question of ideal school size in urban or rural areas, or on ideal primary school size.
The Secretary of State will not be making a statement on this issue.