HC Deb 05 November 2002 vol 392 cc185-6W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many City Academies have(a) been set up and (b) been committed to be set up; and who the sponsors of each Academy are. [78767]

Mr. Miliband

Three Academies opened in September 2002. These are The Business Academy, Bexley sponsored by David Garrard, Greig City Academy in Haringey sponsored by the Greig Trust and the Church of England and Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough sponsored by Amey plc. 20 Academy partnerships are working to establish Academies. Five of these have funding agreements which are legal contracts to establish an Academy.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether existing schools may apply to become City Academies if suitable sponsors can be found. [78768]

Mr. Miliband

Existing schools may express an interest in becoming Academies. We expect Academies to be set up with the active support of the relevant LEA. For community schools, the LEA would need to publish statutory closure notices in order for an Academy to be established in place of the existing school.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers exist for the creation of city academies on a federated basis, by grouping schools under a common governing body. [78771]

Mr. Miliband

Under section 482 of the Education Act 1996 the Secretary of State has powers to enter funding agreements with any person to establish an academy. This power is wide enough to allow funding of a group of academies with a single governing body which could be known as an academy federation. This is not connected with the powers under section 24 of the Education Act 2002, which allow maintained schools to form federations. Section 24 applies only to maintained schools not to academies.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether initial discussions about the setting up of a city academy have begun between his Department, the City of Newcastle upon Tyne LEA and potential sponsors. [78809]

Mr. Miliband

Discussions take place regularly between officials and local education authorities about the scope for academies to play a part in their strategic plans for education. Officials have held such discussions with Newcastle upon Tyne LEA. There has been no formal approach from a partnership, of a sponsor and the local education authority, for an academy in the City of Newcastle area.