§ 8. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)If he will make a statement on the cost of administering foundation schools. [94257]
§ The Minister for School Standards (Ms Estelle Morris)Foundation schools receive delegated budget shares from their local education authorities, which should reflect schools' additional costs arising from additional statutory responsibilities.
§ Mr. EvansThe Minister will be aware of the excellence of Clitheroe royal grammar school in my constituency, which has superb examination results. It was a grant-maintained school and is now a foundation school 1088 and a beacon school. When I spoke to the headmaster this morning, he said that he has been told that next year his budget would be reduced by £107,000. He has a choice: he could get rid of some of the teachers, or he could do as other headmasters have done and ask parents to make a voluntary contribution.
The Minister will be aware of parents who are facing that dilemma. What advice would she give to parents who send their children to that school? Should they pay the money?
§ Ms MorrisI am delighted to acknowledge excellence in any school in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. I am sure that it exists in many grammar, non-selective, infant and junior schools. I am surprised that the head of Clitheroe royal grammar school is in a position to talk about next year's budget, given that it has not been set. I assure the hon. Gentleman that, as a result of the announcement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the summer, foundation schools—former grant-maintained schools—will next year receive a 2.5 per cent. increase to protect them from inflation. That is on top of the cash protection that was offered last year.
§ Mrs. Theresa May (Maidenhead)I congratulate the Minister on her appointment to the Privy Council. When abolishing grant-maintained schools by turning them into foundation schools, the then Minister for School Standards said that the Government were "levelling up" funding,
not to cut grant-maintained schools' funds but to increase the funding for pupils in other schools".Given that GM schools are losing £100 million this year, will the Minister admit that the Government have broken their promise not only to the former grant-maintained schools, but to teachers, governors, pupils and parents of all other schools?
§ Ms MorrisI thank the hon. Lady for her kind comments. Former grant-maintained schools still receive £62 more per pupil at primary level and £101 more per pupil at secondary level to reflect their additional responsibilities. The hon. Lady knows that, following evidence from the Public Accounts Committee in 1994, her Government took action progressively to withdraw excess funding for central services, which had been provided under that Administration. This Government are about fairness and ensuring that all schools benefit from the increased money that we are putting into the system—no matter their status. Every school—not just the 1,000 former grant-maintained schools, but all 24,000 schools—will benefit over the years from the extra resources that the Government are providing.