Falling Rolls and the Reorganisation of Schools

Abstract

The marked fall in the school age population,¹ which has hitherto chiefly affected primary schools but whose effects upon secondary schools are now increasingly being felt, has brought with it profound consequences for the organisation and structure of education. Problems have taken the form of agonising decisions as to whether, and if so, to what extent, to take surplus school places out of use; whether particular schools should be reduced in size, or amalgamated, or closed altogether²; whether staff capacity should be reduced or redeployed. with potentially damaging effects upon the curriculum; whether, on the other hand, capacity should be maintained at current levels in order to bring about an improvement in staff-pupil ratios, and to provide a residue of capacity to cater for an eventual upturn in pupil numbers.