HC Deb 24 July 1997 vol 298 cc1041-2
19. Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of new sixth forms which will open this autumn. [8615]

Dr. Howells

We consider every sixth form application on its merits and will continue to do so.

Mr. Bennett

Does my hon. Friend accept that establishing new sixth forms is not the best use of resources? Is he aware of the problems in Tameside, where the previous Government approved a new sixth form for Audenshaw high school in spite of the excellent provision in Tameside college, Ashton sixth form centre and Hyde sixth form centre? It would have been better to use the resources in all the local authority schools in Tameside instead of establishing a new, unnecessary sixth form at Audenshaw high school.

Dr. Howells

I was sorry that I had not seen the application before it was agreed by the previous Administration, but we pay special care and attention to every application that is made to the Department for an additional sixth form in any school anywhere in England. We shall continue to do so, because we are well aware that resources are precious and that unnecessary duplication should not happen. We shall be careful when deciding which schools are allowed to have sixth forms in future.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Before considering new sixth forms, will the Minister look carefully at the funding formula as it affects existing sixth form colleges? My constituency contains two excellent sixth form colleges, but the funding formula is in danger of adversely affecting them. Will the Minister move towards greater convergence in the funding formula for sixth formers, whether in school or in sixth form colleges?

Dr. Howells

The right hon. Lady is right, and we must look carefully at that formula. The Further Education Funding Council deals with sixth form colleges, which are separate from sixth forms in schools, and we must examine the relationship between them carefully. At every opportunity, we seek excellence and best practice. Whether those factors are provided in a sixth form in a school or in a sixth form college, our decision will be based on that information and our desire to raise standards.