Britain's lost schools: the long list

We asked 120 local authorities the following five questions:

a) How many primary schools did the council control at the end of the school year in 1997?
b) How many primary schools is the council set to control at the end of the school year in 2008?
c) From the period July 1997, to July 2008, how many primary school sites have been sold off?
d) If any have been sold, what was the total received by the council for the sales?
e) Does the council currently have any primary school sites earmarked for sale? If so, how many?

We received responses from 113 authorities, listed below. We have summarised each council's individual response.

Index

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O -
P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

ABERDEENSHIRE
a) 160
b) 152
c) 3
d) £625,000
e) 5 redundant schools are likely to be sold this year, 3 of which are to be placed on the market soon.

ANGLESEY
a) 12
b) 13
c) 9 d) £10m
e) 8

ABERDEEN CITY
a) 61
b) 49 primary schools (4 possible closures currently subject to consultation)
c) 3 schools sold, plus 1 transferred to housing account
d) £3.1m
e) none

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B

BURY
a) 66
b) 63
c) The Diocesan Councils have sold 2 of the 3 buildings for housing developments while the other building formed part of a church and has been restored accordingly.
d) Although the land and buildings of 2 of these former schools have been sold off these were decisions not taken by Bury Council as they were not our assets.
e) None

BARKING AND DAGENHAM
a) 14 Infant Schools; 13 Junior Schools; 22 Primary Schools; 8 Secondary Schools; 1 Special School
b) Since then, the only change that has been made is that Eastbury Infant School has become a Primary School and we have one further change planned for Valence Infant and Junior Schools to merge on 21 April 2008 to become Valence Primary School.
c) none
d) n/a
e) n/a


BARNSLEY
a) 90
b) 82
c) 4
d) £3,168,000
e) None


BEDFORDSHIRE
a) 147
b) 147
c) None
d) n/a
e) 1

BIRMINGHAM
a) No record
b) 299 - this number will be a reduction on 1997 because of amalgamations where Infant and Junior have merged to become a primary. No schools have closed as far as I am aware.
c) None
d) n/a
e) 1

BOLTON
a) 105
b) 95
c) 5 - but only one was owned by the council.
d) £953,000 in March 2005 (sales from the church sites may be available via the land registry)
e) 2

BROMLEY
a) 62
b) 60
c) 1
d) £2,376,000 (this represents the majority of the site. The remainder of the site has yet to be sold)
e) None


BLACKPOOL
We have the same number of primary schools now as at Local Government reorganisation in 1998, therefore we haven't sold off any sites.
The only slight complication is that in 1998 we had 4 Infant and Junior schools which were subsequently amalgamated into primaries.
However, there were no land site sales as part of the process.

BRISTOL
a) 125
b) 94 (All reduction due to amalgamation of paired infant and junior schools into single primary schools, except in one instance where two primary schools were amalgamated into one primary school).
c) None
d) n/a
e) 4.

2 are sales of parts of sites where paired infant and junior schools have amalgamated into single primary school and the whole site was no longer required. 2 are where two schools have amalgamated into single primary and the previous schools were on separate sites

BRIDGEND
a) 58
b) 54
c) 3
d) £2,112,120
e) 1


BEXLEY
a) 64
b) 58
c) 3
d) £5.98m
e) None


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C

COVENTRY
a) 89
b) 85
c) 0
d) None
e) 3

CORNWALL
a) 245 in 1999
b) 237
c) 11
d) £1,965,718
e) none

CAMBRIDGESHIRE
a) 204
b) 202
c) 6
d) £19.7m
e) 2

CARMARTHENSHIRE
a) 141
b) 119
c) 5
d) £476,000
e) 2

CLAKMANNANSHIRE
a) 19
b) 19
c) 0
d) 0
e) 0

CAERPILLY
a) 92
b) 73
c) 4
d) £215,522
e) 5

CHESHIRE
a) 296 primary school (figures have been adjusted to exclude schools in Halton & Warrington Districts that left Cheshire in April 1998)
b) 259
c) 10 Schools
d) £3.7m
e) 1

CEREDIGION
a) 77
b) 70
c) None
d) n/a
e) 1

CARDIFF
a) 86. There were also 24 voluntary aided primary, infant and junior schools.
b) 84. There will also be 23 voluntary aided primary and infant schools.
c) The Council has not disposed of any primary school sites in the period. The only primary school site to be disposed of in this period was owned by the Church in Wales authorities.
d) Nil.
e) 1

CROYDON
a) 90
b) 89
c) None
d) n/a
e) None


CUMBRIA
a) 274
b) 275
c)1
d) £15,000
e) None


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D

DONCASTER
a) 105
b) 88
c) 3
d) £2,014,310
e) none


DENBIGHSHIRE
a) 54
b) 52
c) 2
d) £190,000
e) 0

DARLINGTON
a) 23 primary schools, plus 6 nursery schools, 6 infant schools, 6 junior schools.
b) 24 primary schools, plus 2 nursery schools, 3 infant schools, 3 junior schools.
c) 4
d) £4,381,657 (although the sale of one of the sites included the sale of additional land owned by the Council and not just the school).
e) 1

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
a) 116
b) 106
c) Six schools
d) £646,991
e) Three schools

DERBYSHIRE
a) 362
b) 355
c) 3
d) £1.7m
e) No


DERBY
a) 81
b) 78
c) 2
d) £695,000
e) 2


DORSET
a) 139
b) 135
No schools actually closed between July 1997 and July 2008 - the change in number is due to 5 primary schools created from amalgamation of infant and junior schools, 1 first school created from the amalgamation of two small first schools, 2 new primary schools.
(c) None
(d) N/A
(e) Two sites earmarked for sale

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E

ESSEX
a) 488
b) 470
c) 8
d) £4,642,500
e) 2


EAST AYRSHIRE
a) 46
b) 46
c) None
d) n/a
e) No

EAST LOTHIAN
a) 35
b) 35
c) 0
d) n/a
e) No complete site, small part of one site.

EALING
a) 46
b) 47
c) 1
d) £11.4m
e) No


EDINBURGH
a) 103
b) 94
c) 9
d) £8.9m
e) 6


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F

FLINTSHIRE
a) 75
b) 74 ( Ysgol y Ddol, Rhydymwyn closed officially on 28th January 2008)
c) 2 schools, Ysgol Maes Glas, Greenfield and Cornist Park C. P., Flint, were relocated in September 2003 and March 1997 respectively, to different sites.
d) Greenfield site was sold for £285,000 Feb 2008 and Flint Cornist sold for £45,000 4th October, 1999.
e) None


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G

GLASGOW
a) 203
b) 160
c) 9
d) £5,116,420
e) 16


GATESHEAD
a) 75
b) 69
c) 0
d) n/a
e) 2


GLAMORGAN
a) At July 1997 - 9 infant schools, 9 junior schools, 35 primary schools
b) At July 2009 - 3 infant schools, 3 junior schools, 41 primary schools
c) One School
d) Nothing received by the council as it was a church in Wales primary school and therefore receipts directed to the church authorities
e) None


GREENWICH
a) 65
b) 64
c) 2
d) £8.6m
d) None


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H

HILLINGDON
a) 69
b) 65
c) None- the difference between a and b is due to merging 4 separate infant/ junior schools
d) n/a
e) None


HAVERING
a) 71
b) 64
c) 1
d) £15.4m
e) 3


HULL
a) 80
b) 71
c) None
d) n/a
e) 4


HACKNEY
a) 41 community schools and 14 voluntary aided schools (8 Church of England, 4 Roman Catholic and 2 Jewish)
b) 40 community schools and 13 voluntary aided schools (7 CoE, 4 RC and 2 Jewish)
c) 2 schools - both voluntary aided. One CoE and one Jewish. Neither site owned by the Council.
The number of community schools decreased as a community school was closed but the land retained as a site for a secondary school, the Bridge Academy. As such, the site was not sold off.
The number of Jewish voluntary aided schools has stayed the same as one school closed, the site being sold off by its owner (not the Council), but a new school opened elsewhere.
d) £0 - Land sold did not belong to the Council.
e) None.

HARROW
a) 55
b) 53
c) None
d) n/a
e) No

HERTFORDSHIRE
a) 416
b) 404
c) Nine
d) £25.6m
e) 3

HARINGEY
a) 73 - of which 21 VC schools
b) 63 - of which 21 VC schools
c) none - reduction due to amalgamations
d) 0
e) 0

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I

INVERCLYDE
a) 32
b) 24
c) 3
d) £2m
e) None, however one is likely to be made available later this year, with a further four becoming available between 2009 and 2012.


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J

K

KINGSTON
a) 36
b) 34
c) None
d) None
e) No

KNOWSLEY
a) 28
b) 24
c) 1 school and 1 school playing field
d) £625,000
e) None

KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
a) 26
b) 26
c) 0
d) n/a
e) n/a


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L

LINCOLNSHIRE
a) 231 of 291 primary schools in 1997
b) 223 of 283 primary schools in 2008
c) 3
d) £570,669
e) 1

LEWISHAM
In July 1997 70 Primary Schools were under council control and in July 2007 69 Primary Schools were under council control.
No sites have been sold off during this period.

LEICESTERSHIRE
a) 228
b) 225
c) 4
d) £2.1m
e) None


LEEDS
a) 242
b) 220
c) 14
d) £13.7m
e) 12


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M

MIDDLESBROUGH
a) 48
b) 42 ( 2 school closures and 4 amalgamations of infant and junior schools into primary schools.)
c) 2 Voluntary Aided school sites have now changed ownership. The Council still own part of one site which has been leased to the Cleveland Police on a peppercorn rent for sixty years.
d) 0
e) 0


MORAY
a) 49
b) 46
c) 5 sites sold off (including 2 which had closed prior to 1996)
d) £465,460
e) None

MANCHESTER
a) 153
b) 132
c) During the past decade 28 primary schools (including primary and all age special schools) were closed, of which 21 were mainstream primary schools.
d) Of the 28 primary schools which are listed above as having closed in the period July 1997 to July 2008, the following surplus sites/ buildings have so far been sold:
School - Oldwood: £3,120,131 & Royal Oak: £3,081,007.
e) Up to 10

MERTON
a) not available
b) 43
c) 0
d) n/a
e) None

MILTON KEYNES
a) 84
b) 90
c) 2
d) £272,900
e) 1

MIDLOTHIAN
a) 36
b) 30
c) 2
d) £317,750 (note the two school sites sold had title restrictions and the sales do not reflect full market value).
e) 9

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N

NORTH EAST LINCS
a) 65
b) 54
c) 2 schools have been sold but the playing fields retained (due to the amalgamation of separate Infant and Junior schools into through Primary schools the Authority had two school sites surplus to Education requirements).
d) £699,170.50 from the sale of the two sites
e) 2

NORFOLK
a) 449
b) 437
c) 1
d) £275,000
e) One school

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
a) 256
b) 264
c) None
Although some primary schools have closed for example St Paul's Northampton and Barnwell Primary, these sites have been in the ownership of The Peterborough Diocesan Board who would decide on their future use and if they decided to sell would retain the capital receipt.
d) n/a
e) 6 plus 2 plots of land adjoining existing schools

NEWCASTLE
a) 75
b) 71
c) None - switched use. One a church school.
d) n/a
e) No

NOTTINGHAM
a) 104
b) 81
c) 1
d) £825,000
e) none

NEWHAM
a) 63
b) 66 (5 schools opened and 2 schools closed in the period 1997-2008)
c) 0
d) 0
e) 0

NORTHUMBERLAND
a) 142
b) 136
c) 2
d) £36,363
e) 2

NEWPORT
a) 55
b) 51 primary/infant/junior schools (1 school closure since 1997, and three infant/junior amalgamations)
c) 0
d) n/a
e) None

NORTH YORKSHIRE
a) 328
b) 325
c) No sites have been sold off by the council; a number of sites where schools have been replaced on new sites or closed have been transferred back to Church of England dioceses and the dioceses have subsequently disposed of some of these.
d) n/a
e) No

NORTH TYNESIDE
a) 57
b) 56
c) None
d) None
e) 1

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O

ORKNEY
a) 24
b) 23
c) 0
d) n/a
e) No

OXFORDSHIRE
a) 238
b) 232 primary schools including infants and juniors. 11 schools have been closed or sold and five new schools have been newly opened in the last ten years.
c) 13 schools. Please note that while this answer would seem logically to be the difference between responses a) and b) above, this is not necessarily the case as some schools are amalgamated and not all sites are subsequently sold by the council.
d) £39.75m
e) 1

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P

PLYMOUTH
a) In 1997 Plymouth was still part of Devon County Council - Plymouth became a unitary authority in 1998 and thus the earliest figures we can provide are for that date. These are: 66 community, 3 VC and 11 VA schools in 1998 (total 80). The figures reflect the situation in July 2008.
b) July 2008: the Council will 'control' 61 community primary schools (including junior and infant schools, but not the 3 voluntary controlled or the 11 voluntary aided schools).
c) none
d) n/a
e) 9

PORTSMOUTH
a) 53
b) 53
c) none
d) none
e) 1

PETERBROUGH
a) 49
b) 49
c) 0
d) 0
e) None

PERTH AND KINROSS
a) 78 primary schools
b) 76 primary schools: 2 primary schools were closed for educational reasons affecting less than 10 pupils
c) 5
d) £450,000
e) 3

PRESTON
a) 590
b) 487 (due in part to council reorganisation)
c) 28 (includes part site sales)
d) £1.5m
e) Lancashire County Council has no schools earmarked for sale (on the open market). However, the County Council's Estates Unit is presently involved in the free transfer (under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998) of 15 primary and junior school building sites to either the Roman Catholic or Church of England Diocese. All the schools have been built and are fully operational. The transfers are a statutory requirement, and in most cases Lancashire County Council has retained ownership of the playing fields.

PORT TALBOT
a) 72
b) 72
c) 2. Former Cae Rhys Ddu Overspill (part of Y.G.G. Castell Nedd) was sold on 28th September 2004 and the former YGG Pontardawe site at Thomas Street was sold on 23rd March 2006.
d) £617,500 (147,500 and £470,000 respectively)
e) None

POWYS
a) 109
b) Depends on the outcome of current closure proposals but potentially 103.
c) 1
d) £205,000
e) 1

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Q

R

REDBRIDGE
a) 49
b) 52
c) No exisitng school sites have been sold off
d) 0
e) 0

RHONDA
a) 147
b) 121
c) 12
d) £2,342,726
e) 6


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S

SUTTON
a) 42
b) 41 (2 infant / junior amalgamations took place, and there was one new school)
c) 1
d) £1.55m
e) None

SHETLAND
a) 34
b) 32
c) 0
d) n/a
e) none

STIRLING
a) 44
b) 42
c) None
d) No
e) 0

SUFFOLK
a) 257
b) 256 - although it should be noted that Statutory Proposals for the closure of Cookley & Walpole VCP have been published which, if approved, will reduce this figure to 255.
c) 13 sales over this period including complete sites of closed schools, proposed sites for schools that were no longer required, small surplus areas of existing sites, and relocation of schools to other sites.
d) £2.3m in total
e) 7 sites (or parts of sites) identified for sale.

SOUTH AYRSHIRE
a) 45
b) 44
c) none
d) n/a
e) n/a

SURREY
a) 330
b) 317
c) 7
d) £5,409,136.60
e) 4

SOUTH TYNESIDE
a) 57
b) 51 (from September 2008 this number will reduce to 50)
c) In 1999, one primary school site was sold. In 2004, the sites of one Infant and one Junior school were transferred to a developer who built (at no cost to the Authority) a new primary school.
d) The sale in 1999 realised £550,000
e) At this time, we are in the process of preparing for the disposal/sale of two former school sites in the South Shields area

SUNDERLAND
a) 79
b) 66
Please note that this difference is due to the amalgamation of 10 primary schools and 3 school closures.
c) 7
d) £7,733,569
e) 7

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
a) 124
b) 124
c) None
d) no
e) no

ST HELENS
a) 54
b) 52
c) One site sold off to a church (others back to diocese + mergers)
d) £100,000
e) Maybe one site

SWANSEA
a) 94
b) 88
c) 1
d) £236,000
e) 4

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T

TORFAEN
a) 36
b) 27
c) 1
d) £249,500
e) No

TELFORD
a) 66 in 1998
b) 57
c) 5
d) £8.4m
e) 1

TAMESIDE
a) 80
b) 74
c) 4
d) £3,522,000
e) 1

TRAFFORD
a) 76
b) 71
c) 1
d) £760,000
e) 1

TOWER HAMLETS
a) 74
b) 70 - The difference in the totals is accounted for by the closure of one primary school and the reorganization of 8 separate infant and junior department schools into 4 all-through primary schools.
c) The Council has not sold any former primary school sites.
d) n/a
e) No

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U

V

W

WIRRAL
a) 100
b) 93
c) 1
d) £2.6m
e) None

WREXHAM
a) 74
b) 66 schools to 2007/08; but this will drop to 62 schools in 2008/09
c) 4 school sites were totally sold and 1 school where only the lower school buildings were sold.
d) £10,242,005
e) 1 school earmarked for closure and sale in July 2008

WALTHAM FOREST
a) 28
b) 37
c) 0
d) 0
e) no

WAKEFIELD
a) 131
b) 123
c) 7 (includes part sites)
d) £2,650,000
e) None

WEST LOTHIAN
a) 65
b) 66 primary schools at end of school session in June 2008.
c) 4
d) £1,193,600
e) 4

WEST SUSSEX
a) 246
b) 240
c) 8 (Includes whole and part site disposals)
d) £15,772,651
e) 3 (part site disposals)

WIGAN
a) 116
b) 104
c) 8
d) £5.9m
e) None

WARRINGTON
a) Warrington Borough Council became a Unitary Authority in April 1998 and the schools were transferred over from Cheshire County Council. There were 75 primary schools at that time.
b) The Council is set to control 70 primary schools at the end of the school year in 2008 which is made of three closures, three infant and junior schools amalgamated and one new school opened.
c) None
d) n/a
e) none

WILTSHIRE
a) 221
b) 203
c) 9
d) £1,755,327.85
e) 5 (2 of which involve schools that have been split site, one of their sites will be sold and the proceeds used to rebuild the lost accommodation on their second site. The other 3 involve the sale or part-sale of current school sites so that the proceeds can be used to provide the 3 schools with new accommodation). There will be NO school closures as a result of these sales. They are also all in urban areas

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X

Y

Z

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