Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals for school closures in West Northumberland on the provision of schooling in that area.

Local authorities (LAs) are under a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient schools in their area to meet the needs of the local population. This includes reviewing provision where populations have grown or declined. Where LAs have identified surplus capacity and/or the need to reorganise schools in their area, they have the power to close all categories of maintained school.

The LA must follow a well established statutory process when considering the closure of a school. This process includes a consultation period to allow those affected by the proposal to submit their views and comments.

Northumberland County Council is currently carrying out an informal consultation to seek views on a number of proposed options for the reorganisation of education provision in the west of the county.

Ultimately, it is the LA who makes the decision about whether or not to close a school, and the department has no direct role in the decision-making process.