§ 11. Sir David MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are his reasons for proposing to abolish the Grant Maintained Schools Foundation. [200]
§ Mr. ByersThe Grant Maintained Schools Foundation is a private company and its future is a matter for its directors.
§ Sir David MadelSubject to parental support, do grant-maintained schools have a permanent place in the education service?
§ Mr. ByersWe made it clear in the run-up to the general election that we want to introduce a new structure into our school system, under which all schools will be treated fairly. A White Paper will be published in June which will give effect to those proposals. The Government's priority, however, is not to concentrate on structures, as did the previous Administration, which gave £2.5 million of taxpayers' money to the Grant Maintained Schools foundation—enough to pay the salaries of 100 primary school teachers. Our priority is to ensure that we improve the standards and quality of education that we offer to all our children.