§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances it is his policy in312W cases where a majority of parents wish an existing county school to become a foundation school, to support their wishes. [8647]
§ Mr. ByersThe White Paper "Excellence in Schools" set out our plans for introducing a new framework of community, aided and foundation schools to replace the existing categories of schools. Chapter 7 proposes that, in order to minimise disruption for schools, the necessary legislation should be framed in terms of a set of assumptions that schools in an existing category will generally move to a specified new category. But the governing body will be able to choose a different legal category if they wish, and parental ballots will be available as a mechanism for parents to express their views.