§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to decide where the new advanced schools will be located; what the time scale will be for establishing these schools; and if she will make a statement. [71001]
§ Mr. MilibandWe intend to establish a network of up to 300 advanced schools by 2006 and would want to see an initial group in operation from September 2003. Decisions about the location of these schools will be taken before next June. Advanced schools will be at the forefront of our drive to reform the education system and will provide opportunities for our best schools to lead the transformation of secondary education in their local areas.