§ Mr. CongdonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how grant-maintained schools will benefit from the school improvement programme announced by her on 25 May. [28111]
§ Mr. ForthAs my right hon. Friend made clear in her announcement, this programme of measures is designed to promote improvement in all publicly funded schools. The aim is to secure maximum benefit from the new system of inspection and the action plans for improvement which follow. Grant-maintained schools receive special purpose grant (development) to assist in this process; this grant replicates, in the different circumstances of GM 293W schools, the grants for education support and training available to LEA schools. The Funding Agency for Schools will consult GM schools on additional flexibility to enable them to focus some of their resources in the period immediately following an Ofsted inspection. GM schools will also be able to make use of the list of advisers and consultants produced by the Department to extend the range and choice of professional advice to support school improvement.