Specialist Schools

HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 cc396-7W

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the criteria will be for the next round of applications for specialist schools. [4892]

Ms Estelle Morris

The new criteria will retain the benefits of the existing arrangements but will include an emphasis on collaboration with other schools and the wider community. We expect that revised criteria will be available to schools during July.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what resources he plans to provide to ensure that sports specialist schools in the state education system develop into a network. [4893]

Ms Morris

The resources for specialist sports colleges, as with all programmes, will be considered as part of the Department's review of its spending plans.