HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 cc379-82W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet representatives of Nottingham city council to discuss the future of the city technology college in Nottingham.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Nottingham CTC will open as planned in September 1989. The trustees and the project staff would welcome positive discussions with the city council and if a meeting with officials or Ministers would materially assist, we should be happy to consider making the necessary arrangements.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what deadline has been set for companies wishing to sponsor Dixons' city technology college in Bradford to indicate their financial commitment.

Mrs. Rumbold

None.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) to what agreements staff teaching at Dixons' technology college in Bradford will be subject;

(2) whether bona fide trade unions will be recognised by management for negotiating purposes at Bradford city technology college.

Mrs. Rumbold

These will be matters for the governors of the CTC to consider in due course.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether parents of children attending Dixons' city technology college in Bradford will be required to pay fees towards their child's education or charges for particular classes or activities.

Mrs. Rumbold

No fees will be charged for admission to a CTC or in respect of education provided at the school, subject to the exceptions laid down in funding agreements between my right hon. Friend and the sponsors. Such exceptions will be in line with the charging provisions in section 106 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what dates he or his ministerial colleagues have met Richard Kalms, chairman of the Dixons Group plc, Edward Simpson, city technology college consultant to Dixons, and Councillor Eric Pickles, leader of Bradford metropolitan council, to discuss the establishment of a city technology college by Dixons.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met Mr. Stanley Kalms; what subjects were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

Neither my right hon. Friend nor any of his ministerial colleagues have met Mr. Stanley Kalms, the chairman of Dixons plc, or Mr. Richard Kalms, Edward Simpson or Councillor Pickles to discuss the establishment of the Bradford CTC.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people will constitute the governing body at Dixons' city technology college in Bradford; if parents, staff and pupils will have rights to elect governors; and if he will specify the rights of governors.

Mrs. Rumbold

The CTC in Bradford has not yet adopted a scheme of government. The model scheme of government recommended by the Department provides that the governing body of a city technology college shall consist of not fewer than nine and not more than 20 members. Not fewer than four co-opted members will be appointed to represent the interests of teachers, the parents of pupils at the college and the community. The powers and responsibilities of the governors are set out in the scheme of government.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what rights of apppeal parents will have whose children are refused a place at Dixons' city technology college in Bradford.

Mrs. Rumbold

CTCs are independent schools and parents will have no right of appeal.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if Dixons' city technology college in Bradford will be co-educational; how children attending the college will be selected; and if pupils attending the college will be eligible for the assisted places scheme.

Mrs. Rumbold

The city technology college in Bradford will be co-educational. The pupils will be selected on the basis that they are likely to benefit from the type of education that the CTC will offer and that they and their parents have a commitment to full time education or training beyond the age of 16. The pupil intake will be expected to cover the full range of abilities among pupils in the catchment area and to be representative of the local community. Because education at the CTC will be free of charge, the assisted places scheme is not relevant.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much land will be required in total to meet the requirements of Dixons' city technology college, including play and sports areas;

(2) what is the latest total estimate of the amount of public funds necessary to establish the Dixons' city technology college; and what is the latest total estimate of private investment available to establish this city technology college.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much his Department is contributing(a) in 1988–98 and (b) in 1989–90 towards the capital cost of establishing a city technology college in Bradford; and what is his estimate of the eventual total capital cost of establishing that city technology college.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated capital cost to his Department of the construction of the city technology college in Bradford; what is the estimated annual revenue cost contribution to the running of the college; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumold

The Department is currently undertaking a feasibility and cost study for a Bradford CTC. It would be premature to release any figures on either captial or recurrent costs or land requirements before that study is complete.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the establishment of Dixon's city technology college in Bradford will cause the closure of any maintained secondary schools in Bradford.

Mrs. Rumbold

The establishment of a CTC should not cause any closures of other secondary schools since secondary student rolls in Bradford are buoyant.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will name the local firms, which, to date, have agreed to join Dixons plc in sponsoring the Dixons' city technology college in Bradford.

Mrs. Rumbold

It is for the sponsors to decide when and if they wish the details of their sponsorship to become public.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department approved the terms of a press release, issued by Dixons Group plc, embargoed until 02.00 on Tuesday 8 November concerning Bradford city technology college prior to this press release being issued to the media.

Mrs. Rumbold

Yes.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what consultations were held with teaching unions over the decision to establish a city technology college in Bradford by his Department;

(2) if he has had discussions with any teacher trade unions and Bradford local authority councillors or officers regarding the impact on the local authority schools which the establishment of a city technology college is likely to have; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the teaching unions or with the local authority. Bradford has a buoyant secondary school population and the impact of a CTC on enrolment at neighbouring schools is not likely to be significant. We expect that it will have a substantial beneficial effect upon secondary education generally in Bradford.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many places the Dixons Group plc has expressed interest in investing privately in the establishment of a city technology college.

Mrs. Rumbold

Dixons has given careful consideration to a number of locations, mainly in Yorkshire, but also elsewhere in the north of England.