§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost to his Department of applying to maintained sector boarding schools the 85 per cent. formula for capital funding which currently applies in the voluntary aided sector, assuming expenditure remained at the level of the last financial year for which he has statistical information relating to capital allocations to, and expenditure by, local education authorities in respect of their maintained boarding provisions.
§ Mr. DunnIt is not possible to make this calculation, since local education authorities ar not required to submit details of capital spending on individual projects to the Department.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he or any of the Ministers in his Department last met representatives of the Boarding Schools Association to discuss boarding provision in the maintained and independent sectors of education; and what further meetings are planned.
§ Mr. DunnI received a deputation from the Boarding Schools Association in May 1984 and have been in touch with the association by correspondence since then. I have expressed my willingness to meet the association again if it wishes.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list, since 1980, the proposals which have come before him under sections 12 or 13 of the Education Act 1980 for the closure or significant reduction of boarding provision in maintained schools; and what was his decision in each case.
§ Mr. DunnThe table lists proposals published under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 for the clolsure or discontinuation of boarding provision in maintained schools, and shows in each case the Secretary of State's decision, or local education authority determination in accordance with section 12(7) of the Act. The list excludes special schools.
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LEA and description of proposal Date of Decision Approved by Secretary of State Determined by LEAs Suffolk Closure of the boarding house for girls of Thomas Mills High School 10 June 1982 Northumberland Closure of Brown Rigg Boarding School 22 January 1985 Manchester Discontinuation of 50 boarding places at Parrs Wood High School 15 June 1981 Cumbria Closure of boarding accommodation at Kirkby Lonsdale Queen Elizabeth Comprehensive 3 September 1986 Kent Closure of boarding accommodation at Highworth School for girls 16 June 1984 West Sussex Closure of boarding and lodging facilities at Midhurst Grammar 20 October 1986 Oxfordshire Closure of King Alfreds Boarding House Under consideration