§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give the number of schools wishing to participate in the assisted places scheme for which he has relaxed the requirement concerning the percentage of aided pupils entering the scheme who formerly attended maintained schools.
§ Mr. DunnSchools entering the scheme are expected to comply with the conditions relating to the proportion of assisted pupils from publicly-maintained schools. Any subsequent difficulties are considered as they arise.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been carried out by his Department into the effects on comprehensive school sixth-forms of the operation of the assisted places scheme at schools in their locality; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnThe Department has monitored the numbers of pupils transferring to assisted sixth form places 375W from publicly-maintained schools. The numbers involved are negligible for individual maintained schools and cannot be considered a threat to their sixth forms.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the educational background of pupils currently receiving education under the assisted places scheme, specifying what evidence is available to his Department on the type of school attended prior to taking up the assisted place.
§ Mr. DunnAt the time of their selection, 69 per cent. of assisted pupils were attending publicly-maintained schools, and had done so for at least two years.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the percentage of school income currently represented by money received under the assisted places scheme to schools participating in this scheme.
§ Mr. DunnAt a typical participating school, I would estimate that payments in respect of remitted fees for assisted pupils represent about 11 per cent. of its fee income.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to his Department concerning the occupation of parents of pupils currently educated under the assisted places scheme.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence is collected by his Department to enable it to assess the success of the assisted places scheme.
§ Mr. DunnThe success of the scheme lies in the manifest widening of opportunities available to bright children from low-income families.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost to his Department of an assisted places secondary school place; and how this compares with the average annual capitation for a maintained sector secondary school place.