§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance or rules Her Majesty's Government will publish and forward to self-governing maintained middle or secondary schools concerning future entry qualifications of pupils other than those of domicile; what will be the minimum age of158W assessment; and by what means they will incorporate tests or estimates of (a) attainment and (b) future testable performance. [8295]
§ Mrs. GillanThe governors of grant-maintained schools are responsible for their own admission arrangements. At present, however, those arrangements must be approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. She is now consulting on proposals to lift this requirement, so that grant-maintained schools have the same flexibility as that currently available to LEAs and to the governors of voluntary-aided schools.