HC Deb 21 October 1986 vol 102 cc769-71W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what minimum qualifications he will require of teachers of technical subjects in his proposed city technical colleges.

Mrs. Rumbold

Staff at city technology colleges will be employed by their governing bodies. My right hon. Friend will generally require governing bodies to employ as teachers those who have "qualified teacher" status. Governing bodies will also be expected to match the qualifications and experience of teachers to the subjects taught.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he proposes to give statutory effect to his specific proposals for new direct grant city technical colleges; and under what class of estimate he intends to provide for the relevant public expenditure.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend proposes to pay grant in respect of city technology colleges by the exercise of his powers under section 100 of the Education Act 1944. The expenditure will be met from Supply Estimates in class XII.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what status he proposes for the trustees or governing bodies of the planned city technical colleges; who will appoint the persons concerned; and on what criteria he expects them to recruit pupils.

Mrs. Rumbold

City technology colleges will be owned (or leased) by their promoters. I envisage that they will establish trusts for the purpose of operating CTCs, and appoint the trustees. The promoters will have the controlling interest in CTC governing bodies but details concerning the appointment of governors will be for discussion with my right hon. Friend. CTCs will be required to aim at admitting pupils spanning the full range of ability represented in the catchment area. Pupils will be selected by the head and governing body on the basis of their general aptitude, for example as reflected in their progress and achievement at primary school; on their readiness to take advantage of the type of education offered in CTCs; and on their parents' commitment to full-time education or training up to the age of 18, to the distinctive characteristics of the CTC curriculum, and to the ethos of the CTC.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the governors or trustees of the proposed city technical colleges will be provided with resources to purchase, rent or build, and equip suitable premises and in what age groups he expects them to recruit when first opened.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has made it clear that he expects the promoters of city technology colleges to provide all or a substantial part of the resources needed to purchase, rent, or build, and equip suitable premises. Some assistance may, however, be available to meet repayments on loans raised for this purpose. City technology colleges will normally cater for 11 to 18-year-olds. We hope that they will admit pupils from as broad an age-range as possible when they first open.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with industrial or other private interests concerning the funding of his proposed city technical colleges; and what minimum proportion of their capital cost and revenue expenditure respectively he expects them to provide.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has had a number of preliminary discussions with prospective promoters. They will be expected to meet all or a substantial part of the capital costs of city technology colleges. The Secretary of State will pay the CTC's running costs in accordance with the number of pupils, at a level of assistance per pupil comparable with what is provided by LEAs for maintained schools serving similar catchment areas.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with current providers of secondary technical education in the cities or areas where he plans to establish his city technical colleges.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has had no formal consultations with current providers of secondary technical education in the localities designated as possible locations for city technology colleges. He has, however, written personally to the chairmen of the education committees of the local authority associations. Details of the proposals have been made available widely to the education service, including to all chief education officers. My right hon. Friend and I would be glad to discuss our proposals with local education authorities and, indeed, anyone who shares our concerns about education in the cities.