Primary Education

Mr. Laws
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families by what date English local authorities must submit their plans for primary school reorganisation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight
To access funding for the primary capital programme, English local authorities must submit by 16 June 2008 a primary strategy for change. This document must set out how they will use available funding strategically to renew at least half of all primary schools by 2022-23. Guidance issued on 8 December 2007 states that the strategy should take into account the views and aspirations of local stakeholders and support the delivery of the national policy objectives set out in the Children’s Plan. It will be for local authorities to determine whether this will require any reorganisation of primary school provision and, if so, to publish statutory proposals at the appropriate time.