HC Deb 29 November 1979 vol 974 cc730-1W
Mr. Thornton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he proposes to make in respect of direct grant grammar schools which opted to become maintained by a local education authority under the provisions of the Direct Grant Grammar Schools (Cessation of Grant) Regulations 1975, but may now wish to reconsider their position in the light of the proposed assisted places scheme.

Mr. Mark Carlisle

The Direct Grant Grammar Schools (Cessation of Grant) Regulations 1975 provided that a school might receive grant in respect of pupils admitted in any educational year after 1976 only if on 1 January preceding that year the Secretary of State was satisfied that it continued to be the intention of the proprietors that the school should become a comprehensive school maintained by a local education authority Some schools which have opted to become maintained under these provisions but have not yet done so may wish to reconsider their position in the light of the proposed assisted places scheme, but the establishment of the scheme is subject to the passage of the Education (No. 2) Bill through Parliament and any school wishing to join the scheme will have to satisfy the conditions of membership and be accepted for the scheme by the Secretary of State. I have therefore made amending regulations which will allow the Secretary of State to pay grant to such schools in respect of pupils admitted in the educational year beginning in 1980 so that they will not lose grant for that intake if they wish to consider applying for membership of the scheme. These regulations will shortly be laid before Parliament.