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| School playing fields: Government apology for wrong data | School playing fields: Government apology for wrong data |
| (about 3 hours 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. |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron had relied on the earlier figures. | Education Secretary Michael Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron had relied on the earlier figures. |
| Last week a 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. | Last week a 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. |
| The DfE admitted its error after the Daily Telegraph brought it to light. | The DfE admitted its error after the Daily Telegraph brought it to light. |
| 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". | 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 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. |
| The words "Olympic" and "legacy" hang from the lips of all those politicians who haven't yet, in mid-August, found a beach to head off to on holiday. | |
| The London Olympic slogan "inspire a generation" is nothing if not weighty and the burden of how it is achieved inevitably poses questions for ministers. | |
| So it is the Olympic context that makes this row over school playing fields in England a little embarrassing for the government. | |
| The prime minister went on TV to defend the coalition's record on playing fields. | |
| But, to make his case, he fielded statistics we now know to be duff. | |
| That, we were told, was because of an administrative error by civil servants. | |
| Attention has also been drawn to five cases where playing fields were sold off against the will of an independent panel that advises on closures. | |
| Of course, panels advise. Ministers decide. | |
| But the Department for Education's reading, writing and arithmetic when it came to that definitive number of playing field sell offs means the whole issue still rumbles on. | |
| 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 Telegraph also said ministers had overruled advisers to approve sales five times in the past 15 months. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| '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". | 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 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. |
| 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| Schools where approval has been grantedfor applications made after May 2010 - 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. |