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School playing fields: Government apology for wrong data School playing fields: Government apology for wrong data
(40 minutes later)
  
The Department for Education has apologised after giving inaccurate figures about the number of school playing fields sold off in England.The Department for Education has apologised after giving inaccurate figures about the number of school playing fields sold off in England.
This month, it said the disposal of 21 playing fields had been approved since the May 2010 general election but has now upped that figure to 30.This month, it said the disposal of 21 playing fields had been approved since the May 2010 general election but has now upped that figure to 30.
It said the department had been provided with wrong data by officials.It said the department had been provided with wrong data by officials.
The href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/keep-the-flame-alive/9481037/Keep-The-Flame-Alive-School-playing-fields-at-risk-as-ministers-relax-building-rules.html" >Daily Telegraph reported ministers had overruled advisers to approve sales five times in the last 15 months. Education Secretary Michael Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron had relied on the earlier figures.
The paper said the schools were: Woodhouse Middle School in Staffordshire, Clarborough Primary School in Nottinghamshire, Elliott School in Wandsworth, London, Ingleton Middle School in North Yorkshire and Netley Primary School in Camden, London. Last week a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/foi/disclosuresaboutschools/a00212712/school-playing-fields" title="link to DfE website" >list was released of applications and the decisions taken, with officials saying in most cases, playing fields were being sold after schools had closed or been amalgamated with others.
Education Secretary Michael Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron were among those who relied on the earlier figures to say that just 21 playing fields had been sold off. The DfE admitted its error after the href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/keep-the-flame-alive/9481037/Keep-The-Flame-Alive-School-playing-fields-at-risk-as-ministers-relax-building-rules.html" >Daily Telegraph brought it to light.
A href="http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/foi/disclosuresaboutschools/a00212712/school-playing-fields" title="link to DfE website" >list was released of applications and the decisions taken. A spokesman said: "We are sorry to say that the secretary of state was provided with incorrect information about how many playing fields were disposed of since May 2010".
The DfE, which admitted its error, said the government had tightened protections for existing playing fields and "most decisions" on disposals were taken by junior ministers after "careful consideration".
"We are sorry to say that the secretary of state was provided with incorrect information about how many playing fields were disposed of since May 2010," a DfE spokesman added.
The figures first given related to applications received between May 2010 and June 2012, he added.The figures first given related to applications received between May 2010 and June 2012, he added.
He said those figures should have included requests received by the previous government and then approved by the coalition - which took the total to 30.He said those figures should have included requests received by the previous government and then approved by the coalition - which took the total to 30.
He added: "Ministers have sought to ensure that proceeds go to improving sports facilities for young people overall."He added: "Ministers have sought to ensure that proceeds go to improving sports facilities for young people overall."
'Nobody counted''Nobody counted'
The controversy comes amid a debate about the legacy of the London Olympics after Team GB's medal haul, with sportspeople, politicians and others keen to make sure there are facilities and programmes to bring on the next generation of sporting heroes. The Telegraph also said ministers had overruled advisers to approve sales five times in the past 15 months.
The paper listed the schools as: Woodhouse Middle School in Staffordshire, Clarborough Primary School in Nottinghamshire, Elliott School in Wandsworth, London, Ingleton Middle School in North Yorkshire and Netley Primary School in Camden, London.
Staffordshire County Council says the land sold at Woodhouse Middle School was on a slope, was not used for school sport and that the school still has big playing fields.
The land is being sold to the town council and will be used as a cemetery, officials say.
Another of the cases involves Ingleton Middle School and North Yorkshire County Council says that school has closed.
The controversy over playing fields comes amid a debate about the legacy of the London Olympics after Team GB's medal haul, with sportspeople, politicians and others keen to make sure there are facilities and programmes to bring on the next generation of sporting heroes.
Labour claims an estimated 10,000 playing fields were disposed of between 1979 and 1997 when the Conservatives were in power, but according to the BBC's More or Less programme, "no one really knows the true figure because nobody counted".Labour claims an estimated 10,000 playing fields were disposed of between 1979 and 1997 when the Conservatives were in power, but according to the BBC's More or Less programme, "no one really knows the true figure because nobody counted".
Programme presenter Tim Harford says until five years ago, the estimate was that 5,000 playing fields had been sold in that time. He added that 3,000 schools had closed between 1979 and 1997 so some playing fields would have been sold because of that.Programme presenter Tim Harford says until five years ago, the estimate was that 5,000 playing fields had been sold in that time. He added that 3,000 schools had closed between 1979 and 1997 so some playing fields would have been sold because of that.
Some 213 playing fields were approved for sale between 1999 and April 2010 under Labour, DfE figures show.Some 213 playing fields were approved for sale between 1999 and April 2010 under Labour, DfE figures show.
Previously, the DfE has said sales had only been approved "if the school has closed, has merged or if equal or better facilities are being put in their place".
Last week the DfE said in most of the 21 cases listed, playing fields were being sold after schools had closed or been amalgamated with others.
'Come clean''Come clean'
Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said Mr Gove appeared to have "failed to disclose at least another 10 school playing field sell-offs" which was "misleading and incompetent at the very least".Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said Mr Gove appeared to have "failed to disclose at least another 10 school playing field sell-offs" which was "misleading and incompetent at the very least".
"Michael Gove must now come clean and explain what appears to be a secret programme to sell off school playing fields," he added."Michael Gove must now come clean and explain what appears to be a secret programme to sell off school playing fields," he added.
He has written to the most senior civil servant in the DfE, Chris Wormald, asking him to "release all submissions and correspondence regarding these disposals, including via private email accounts, so that we can understand why the secretary of state overruled his own expert panel". He has written to the most senior civil servant in the DfE, Chris Wormald, asking him to "release all submissions and correspondence regarding these disposals".
Earlier this week, critics warned that new rules on outdoor space for pupils in England to do PE would make it easier for secondary schools to sell off playing fields. Earlier this week, critics warned that new rules on outdoor space for pupils in England to do PE would make it easier for secondary schools to sell playing fields.
The schools previously had to provide pitches ranging from 5,000 sq m to 54,000 sq m, depending on the number of pupils, but must now provide only "suitable outdoor space". Schools previously had to provide pitches ranging from 5,000 sq m to 54,000 sq m, depending on the number of pupils, but must now provide only "suitable outdoor space".
The DfE said its "extremely strict rules" on playing fields were still in place.The DfE said its "extremely strict rules" on playing fields were still in place.
The Telegraph said the schools where the advisory panel had been over-ruled were: Woodhouse Middle School in Staffordshire, Clarborough Primary School in Nottinghamshire, Elliott School in Wandsworth, London, Ingleton Middle School in North Yorkshire and Netley Primary School in Camden, London. Officials said sales had only been approved "if the school has closed, has merged or if equal or better facilities are being put in their place".
Staffordshire County Council says the land sold at Woodhouse Middle School was at the bottom of an embankment and was not used for school sport and that the school still has big playing fields. Schools where approval has been granted for applications made after May 2010 - details as released by the government on 8 August 2012
The land is being sold to the town council and will be used as a cemetery, officials say.
Another of the five was Ingleton Middle School and North Yorkshire County Council says that school has closed.
Schools where approval has been granted - details as released by the government on 8 August 2012
Michael Drayton School in Hampshire is still under consideration.Michael Drayton School in Hampshire is still under consideration.