Falling rolls statistics
Every year the DCSF carries out a survey of surplus places in all local
authorities in England. At the same time it collects forecast data on each
authority's projected pupil numbers for the following five years. The
information in this section is extracted from the 2007 survey of primary
schools. The figures for primary and secondary schools in 2004, 2005, 2006 and
2007 are summarised in tables which are available below
in Word format:
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Primary and secondary surplus places
(1 January 2007) -
Primary and secondary surplus places
(1 January 2006) -
Primary and secondary surplus places
(1 January 2005) -
Primary and secondary surplus places
(1 January 2004)
The overall picture in 2007
In 2007 there were half a million surplus primary-school places in
England — 12 per cent of total capacity.
At local authority level:
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43 authorities had less than 10 per cent surplus places
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107 authorities had more than 10 per cent surplus places, of which 30 had more than 15 per cent surplus
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there were no authorities with over 25 per cent surplus places.
At school level:
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2408 primary schools (with at least 30 places) had 25 per cent or more surplus — 14 per cent of all maintained primary schools
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26 authorities had high levels of surplus — 20 per cent or more primary schools with 25 per cent or more (and at least 30) surplus places
The outlook for 2012
According to local authorities' own forecasts, by 2012 the number of primary pupils is set to increase by around 1 per cent of the current pupil population as birth rates begin to rise.
By 2012:
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67 authorities will have more than 10 per cent surplus places, of which 36 will have more than 15 per cent surplus — 2 more than in 2007
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38 authorities will have between 4 and 10 per cent surplus — 8 less than in 2007
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45 authorities will have little or no surplus — 6 more than in 2007.
Last updated: 17 December 2007
