HC Deb 03 November 1994 vol 248 cc1388-91W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of grant-maintained schools eligible to submit bids for capital grant allocations for named projects in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

Mr. Robin Squire

Total numbers of GM schools operating on 1 January in each of the last five years are as follows:

Year Number of GM schools
1990 20
1991 50
1992 142
1993 333
1994 812

All of these schools were wholly eligible to hid for capital grant allocations in each of the financial years after which they became grant-maintained, and eligible to varying degrees, depending on their actual date of incorporation, to hid in the financial year in which they became grant-maintained.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what applications have been received from promoters for the establishment of new grant-maintained schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993; and, in each case, what is the character of the proposed school.

Mr. Robin Squire

Two proposals have been received from promoters for the establishment of new grant-maintained schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993. One, published on 14 October, is for the establishment of a Jewish secondary school in Leeds for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. The other, published on 17 October, is for the establishment of an interdemoninational Christian school in Bradley Stoke, Avon for boys and girls aged five to 16.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools have applied for a change of character; and, in each case, what was the nature of the change and what was her decision.

Mr. Robin Squire

I have placed in the Library a table that lists by category of change proposed, the grant-maintained schools which have published statutory proposals for a significant change of character or significant enlargement, and gives the decision where one has been made.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of parental ballots on grant-maintained status which have taken place in(a) the primary and (b) the secondary sector; and, in each case, how many of these have resulted in a majority of eligible parents voting in favour of grant-maintained status.

Mr. Robin Squire

The information requested is as follows:

Type of School Number of ballots on GM status Number of ballots with a majority of eligible parents voting in favour
Primary 625 286
Secondary 913 284

The governing body of a school is required to publish proposals for grant-maintained status if the majority of those eligible parents who vote in a ballot are in favour of so doing. If fewer than 50 per cent. of eligible parents vote a second ballot is required. To date, 75 per cent. of parental ballots at primary schools and 73 per cent. at secondary schools have resulted in a vote in favour of seeking grant-maintained status.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the total number of grant-maintained schools which submitted bids for capital grant allocations for named projects in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95;

(2) what was the total value of bids submitted by grant-maintained schools for capital grant for named projects in each year from 1990–1 to 1994–95;

(3) what was the total number of grant-maintained schools for which a capital grant allocation for named projects was approved in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95;

(4) what was the total value of capital grant allocations to grant-maintained schools for named projects in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95;

(5) what was the total number of schools new to the grant-maintained sector since the previous year for which a capital grant allocation for named projects was approved in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

Mr. Robin Squire

I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.

Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the 10 smallest schools that have become grant-maintained; and how many were on the roll of the smallest.

Mr. Robin Squire

The 11 smallest grant-maintained schools are as listed, together with their numbers on roll in January 1993.

School name 1Number on roll
Hollinsclough CE Primary School, Staffordshire 24
St Mildred's GM CE Primary School, Staffordshire 25
Kettleshulme St James CE GM Primary School, Cheshire 33
Gilsland CE Primary School (Grant-Maintained), Cumbria 37
Orton Church of England School, Cumbria 39
The Corbett CE GM Primary School, Staffordshire 48
Clifford CE Grant-Maintained School, Sheffield 51
Lady Elizabeth Hastings CE Primary School, Leeds 51
Wingfield CE Primary School, Wiltshire 61
Bowness-On-Solway GM Primary School, Cumbria 62
Hallbankgate (Grant-Maintained) Primary School, Cumbria 62
1 Information on numbers on roll is derived from the Department for Education's Schools' Census for January 1993.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the percentage of eligible parents taking part in ballots on grant-maintained status for primary schools, (a) voting yes, (b) voting no and (c) not voting (i) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1989, (ii) from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990, (iii) from 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991, (iv) from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992, (v) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993, (vi) from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994, and (vii) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1994.

Mr. Robin Squire

The information requested is as follows:

Percentage of eligible parents
School Year Voting yes Voting no Not voting
1988–89 45 26 29
1989–90 39 26 35
1990–91 42 22 36
1991–92 45 18 37
1992–93 40 23 37
1993–94 33 30 37
1988–94 40 23 37

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the percentage of eligible parents taking part in ballots on grant-maintained status for secondary schools,(a) voting yes, (b) voting no and (c) not voting (i) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1989, (ii) from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990, (iii) from 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991, (iv) from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992, (v) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993, (vi) from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994, and (vii) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1994.

Mr. Robin Squire

The information requested is as follows:

Percentage of eligible parents
School Year Voting yes Voting no Not voting
1988–89
1989–90 19 52 29
1990–91 48 23 29
1991–92 44 23 33
1992–93 46 22 32
1993–94 38 31 31
1988–94 43 25 32

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of pupils in the grant-maintained schools eligible to submit bids for capital grant for named projects in the January prior to the start of each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

Mr. Robin Squire

Pupil numbers at grant-maintained schools on 1 January of each of the last five years are as follows.

Year. Number of pupils(FTE)
1990 13,750
1991 36,450
1992 109,000
1993 242,700
1994 555,500

These pupils were at schools which were wholly eligible to bid for capital grant allocations in each of the financial years after that in which they became grant-maintained, and eligible to varying degrees, depending on their actual date of incorporation, to bid in the financial year in which they became grant-maintained.

Numbers shown are derived from the Department for Education's annual schools' census, with part-time primary pupils included as full-time equivalents. All figures are rounded to the nearest 50.