The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996

Regulation 24

SCHEDULE 2 PLAYING FIELDS

1.—(1) In this Schedule any reference to a school is a reference to a school with pupils who have attained the age of 8 years.

(2) Paragraph 3 shall have effect subject to the provisions of paragraph 5.

2.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the grassed area of a playing field shall be such that it can sustain the playing of team games thereon for 7 hours a week during schools terms.

(2) This paragraph shall not apply in relation to so much of a playing field as exceeds the minimum area hereinafter required.

3.—(1) This paragraph shall apply in the case of any school which is not a special school.

(2) In the case of a school to which this paragraph applies the playing fields shall be of a minimum total area determined (subject to sub-paragraph (3)) in accordance with the following Table by reference to the number of pupils at the school who have attained the age of 8 years and that area shall be the area specified, opposite the entry in column (1) of the Table within which that number falls,

(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.

(3) Should the number of pupils at the school who have attained the age of 8 years exceed 1,950 the playing field 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 (2)(a), or 75,000², 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

Playing fields at schools other than special schools

(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 1 years	Other schools
	Minimum total area in m2
100 or less	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

4.—(1) This paragraph shall apply in the case of a special school with pupils who receive outdoor physical education.

(2) In the case of a school to which this paragraph applies the playing fields shall be adjoining, or in the immediate vicinity of, the school buildings and the total area thereof shall be such as takes account of the need of pupils to participate, where appropriate, in suitable physical activities, including team games.

5.—(1) For the purposes of paragraph 3 a playing field with a hard porous surface which is large enough for the playing of team games may be treated as if it were twice its actual area.

(2) In the case of a school which enjoys the benefit of facilities for—

(a) regular instruction in swimming whether at the school or otherwise;

(b) indoor instruction in team games whether at the school or otherwise; or

(c) outdoor instruction in team games available otherwise than at the school or on synthetic surfaces at the school,

the minimum areas specified in paragraph 3 shall be reduced so far as is reasonable having regard to the facilities mentioned above.