New analysis by the Conservatives shows that there are 344 fewer maintained secondary schools than there were in 1997, whilst the number of pupils at these schools has risen by 104,500.
"Under Gordon Brown parents have been denied the schools they want - good local schools are closing, and the size of schools is increasing", Michael Gove said.
Labour’s policy of closing small schools has forced parents to accept ‘Titan’ schools with more than 1,500 pupils. The falling number of state secondaries since 1997 has resulted in the remaining schools becoming increasingly bloated:
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The average secondary school has 124 more pupils than in 1997: the average size of a secondary has risen from 852 to 976 pupils (an increase of 15%).
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The number of state funded secondaries with more than 1,500 pupils – ‘Titan’ schools – has more than doubled from 136 to 294.
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The proportion of secondary schools with more than 1,000 pupils is also on the rise: in 1997, 32 per cent of state funded secondary schools had more than 1,000 pupils. The proportion has risen to 44 per cent today.
Michael Gove, the Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said it was time to change direction. "The Conservatives will give parents the power to stop the closure of local schools", he said. "We will also create a new generation of independent and free primary and secondary schools run by teachers who know your child's name, not by politicians".
"This will give parents what they want - smaller schools with smaller classes, good behaviour, great teachers and restored confidence in the curriculum", he added.