HC Deb 20 July 1998 vol 316 cc420-1W
Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures are in place to assess the effectiveness of the investment of extra resources in beacon schools. [50910]

Mr. Byers

Each beacon school will be required to produce an annual report accounting for the additional expenditure and assessing the impact of its activities on raising standards in other schools. Those schools receiving support and advice from beacon schools will also be asked to evaluate its impact.

Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what basis beacon schools were selected; and what involvement local education authorities had in the process. [50954]

Mr. Byers

The beacon schools were selected from those commended in Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools' latest Annual Report as the best performing during 1996–97. Local Education Authorities were not involved in the process.

Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of beacon schools on the planning of school admission limits and the management of empty places in schools. [50911]

Mr. Byers

Beacon schools will have no impact on the planning of school admissions limits or the management of empty places in schools.