§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to take further action to encourage schools to seek grant-maintained status.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe 1988 Act gives parents and governors the opportunity to seek grant-maintained status for their school. There has been a rapid expansion in the number of grant-maintained schools and a lot of interest among parents and governors. I anticipate that there will be many more applications for GM status.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to make all local education authority secondary schools grant maintained.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is for parents and governors to decide whether to seek grant-maintained status for their school. My right hon. Friend will consider every application on its merits.