Written question WQ99773
- Asked by
- Dan ThomasReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
Will the Cabinet Minister provide the total pupil capacity for each English-medium school and how many pupils attend each of those schools?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language (Anna Brychan)
The relevant data is available at Stats Wales.
Across Wales, the data shows a mixed picture. In certain areas, there is surplus capacity within the school system, in both English and Welsh-medium settings. The picture is influenced by falling birth rates, demographic change and population shifts across local authorities and therefore requires careful interpretation. In some cases, surplus capacity also reflects newly established or expanding schools that are still building up year groups over time.
A proportion of this capacity is planned into the system as per Welsh Government guidance, providing flexibility to respond to changing patterns of demand.