Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the number of schools letting out premises in order to raise money to supplement their budgets; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Department is aware that many schools choose to make their facilities available outside the school day and out of term time, strengthening their ties to the local community. This allows them to generate extra income through letting of premises, running of events, or from goods or services provided by the school.

Schools have historically used fundraising activities to bring communities together and to bring in some extra funding, over and above the schools’ core budget. Data is collected on how much schools generate from facilities and services; schools have brought in over £1.2 billion a year since 2010.