§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional resources will be provided under her Department's new strategy for London schools, broken down by(a) proposed end use and (b) financial year in which it will be spent. [67630]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggAs Minister with responsibility for the London schools strategy, I am looking forward to discussions with key partners about what additional resources should be provided and to what purpose. Provisional plans are:
£7.5 million to expand the training of talented teachers needed to lead and manage the most challenging schools in London; aimed at existing heads, deputies and middle managers (£0.5 million in 2002–03, £3.5 million in 2003–04, £3.5 million in 2004–05).
£10.0 million to boost provision for gifted and talented pupils in London establishing centres in 13 LEAs to improve the teaching and learning of gifted pupils and establish a programme of recruiting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to the schemes (£2.0 million in 2002–03, £3.9 million in 2003–04, £4.1 million in 2004–05).
£5 million for an Innovation Fund to encourage and incentivise new forms of partnership working between successful and less successful schools and the development of new types of secondary school in London (£0.5 million in 2002–03, £2.0 million in 2003–04, £2.5 million in 2004–05).
728WUp to £2.5 million to fund the work of a London Schools Commissioner to implement the strategy for London schools (£0.5 million in 2002–03, £1.0 million in 2003–04, £1.0 million in 2004–05). This will be finalised once precise tasks are clearer.
These resources will be in addition to other spending on London through the Department's other programmes and funding streams that are subject to the outcome of the spending review.