§ 15. Mr. RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the number of pupils who currently attend grant-maintained schools in the United Kingdom. [29122]
§ Mr. Robin SquireWe estimate that about 670,000 pupils are currently being educated in grant-maintained schools throughout the United Kingdom.
§ 17. Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education when she last met the National Union of Teachers to discuss grant-maintained schools. [29124]
§ Mr. SquireMy right hon. Friend has not had a meeting with the NUT at which grant-maintained schools were the principal subject for discussion.
§ 28. Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will a make a statement about the progress and performance of grant-maintained schools. [29135]
§ Mr. SquireFor three successive years, GM comprehensive schools have, on average, achieved better GCSE results than their local education authority counterparts. Similarly, in 1994—the first year for which adequate data are available—GM primary schools achieved better key stage 1 results than LEA primary schools. These comparisons remain true even if account is taken of socio-economic differences in the schools' intakes.