(a) the likely rate at which flames would spread across exposed surfaces;

(b) resistance to fire of the structures and of the materials of which the structures are made and their other properties; and

(c) the means of escape in case of fire.

(a) the school continues to enjoy the benefit of the same facilities mentioned in paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1996 Regulations as were available at 1st February 1999; and

(b) the total area of the team game playing fields is no smaller than it was at that date.

    (2) Where immediately before 1st February 1999 team game playing fields were provided for a special school which - 

(a) satisfied the requirements (where applicable) of paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1996 Regulations, but

(b) were of an area smaller than the area required by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2

the team game playing fields shall nevertheless, subject to paragraph (3), be treated as satisfying the requirements of paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 provided that the total area of team game playing fields is no less than it was at that date.

    (3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall cease to apply - 

(a) if at any time there is a step increase in the number of pupils at the school; or

(b) if any team game playing fields provided for the school are different from those provided immediately before 1st February 1999.

    (4) In paragraph (3)(a) above a step increase is an increase in the number of pupils which, if paragraph (1) or (2) did not apply before the increase, would have had the effect that, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 2, a greater area of team game playing fields would have been required to be provided.


Charles Clarke
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,Department for Education and Employment

4th January 1999


Peter Hain
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,Welsh Office

21st December 1998

(a) in the case of a community school, a nursery school which is not a special school, a community special school or a pupil referral unit, by the local education authority by whom the school is maintained; and

(b) in the case of a foundation, voluntary or foundation special school, by the governing body of the school in agreement with the local education authority by whom the school is maintained;

as that which they are satisfied is the normal number of registered pupils at the school, of the specified age, or who are boarding pupils, taking one year with another; and, if at the beginning of the autumn term at a school the actual number significantly exceeds the number so determined, the question whether the number remains the normal number shall be considered by that local education authority or the governing body, as the case may be:

provided that when a school is first established the local education authority or the governing body referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above, as appropriate, shall determine the said number having regard to the numbers specified in, or to be inferred from, the proposals published in pursuance of sections 28 or 31 of, or paragraph 5 of Schedule 7 to, the 1998 Act as the case may be (or, in the case of a school established on or after 1st September 1999 pursuant to proposals published before that date, the proposals published in pursuance of sections 35, 41, 211, 212, 339 or 502 of the 1996 Act as the case may be).

     2. Until 1st September 1999 the numbers of pupils for the purposes of regulation 2(4) shall be determined - 

(a) in the case of a county school, nursery school, pupil referral unit or special school established by a local education authority, by the local education authority by whom the school is maintained;

(b) in the case of a voluntary school, by the governing body of the school in agreement with the local education authority by whom it is maintained; and

(c) in the case of a grant-maintained school or a grant-maintained special school, by the governing body of the school;

as that which they are satisfied is the normal number of registered pupils at the school, of the specified age, or who are boarding pupils, taking one year with another; and, if at the beginning of the autumn term at a school the actual number significantly exceeds the number so determined, the question whether that number remains the normal number shall be considered by that local education authority or the governing body, as the case may be:

provided that when a school is first established the local education authority or the governing body referred to in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above, as appropriate, shall determine the said number having regard to the numbers specified in, or to be inferred from, the proposals published in pursuance of sections 35, 41, 211, 339 or 502 of the 1996 Act as the case may be.

     3. In calculating the number of pupils or number of pupils of a specified age, where one registered pupil attends only the morning sessions and another registered pupil attends only the afternoon sessions those two pupils shall count only as a single registered pupil.

     4. For the purposes of this Schedule, a pupil shall, throughout any period of a year beginning on the first day of the autumn term, be treated as being of the age which was his age immediately before the beginning of that year:

provided that - 

(a) where in the course of any such year a child attains the age of five years and is admitted to a school, he shall be treated as if he were of that age immediately before the beginning of that year; and

(b) where the admission arrangements for a school provide for the admission otherwise than to nursery classes of children who will attain the age of five years within six months after their admission, children so admitted shall be treated as being five years of age notwithstanding that they have not attained that age.

     5. Where the number of pupils at a school who have, or have not, attained a specified age is no more than 2% of the total number of pupils at the school, or two, whichever is greater, those pupils shall be disregarded in determining for the purposes of this Schedule whether the school has pupils who have not, or have, attained that age.

(a) in column (2) thereof, in the case of a school with pupils who have not attained the age of 11 years; and

(b) in column (3) thereof, in the case of any other school.

    (2) Should the number of pupils at the school who have attained the age of 8 years exceed 1,950, the team game playing fields shall be of a minimum total area equal to the aggregate of - 

(a) 70,000 m², in the case of a school mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a), or 75,000 m², in the case of any other school; and

(b) 5,000 m² for each complete 150 by which the said number of pupils exceeds 1,801.


TABLE Minimum area of team game playing fields for schools


	Minimum total area in m2
(1)	(2)	(3)
Total number of pupils who have attained the age of 8 years (entries to be construed inclusive of both numbers specified)	Schools with pupils who have not attained the age of 11 years	Other schools
100 or fewer	2,500	5,000
101 to 200	5,000	10,000
201 to 300	10,000	15,000
301 to 400	15,000	20,000
401 to 500	20,000	25,000
501 to 600	25,000	30,000
601 to 750	30,000	35,000
751 to 900	35,000	40,000
901 to 1,050	40,000	45,000
1,051 to 1,200	45,000	50,000
1,201 to 1,350	50,000	55,000
1,351 to 1,500	55,000	60,000
1,501 to 1,650	60,000	65,000
1,651 to 1,800	65,000	70,000
1,801 to 1,950	70,000	75,000

    (3) For the purposes of this paragraph any part of team game playing fields which has an all weather surface, (that is to say a hard porous surface, a synthetic surface or a polymeric surface) may be treated as if it were twice its actual area.

(a) a washroom provided for pupils and staff who are disabled may contain a deep sink or shower;

(b) the requirement for the provision of accommodation for the care of pupils is not restricted to the care of pupils during school hours;

(c) subject to savings contained in regulation 26 the provisions formerly in paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 2 whereby the minimum areas of playing fields could be reduced in certain circumstances are not continued; and

(d) subject to savings contained in regulation 26 the minimum area requirement for team game playing fields (as defined) is extended to special schools;

(e) team game playing fields with an all weather surface may count as twice their area for the purpose of the minimum area requirement for team game playing fields;

(f) changes are made consequential on the new school framework contained in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.