HC Deb 21 February 1989 vol 147 cc547-9W
Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give further details of the criteria which he will adopt in deciding upon an application for grant-maintained status from a school which is full but for which a section 12 closure procedure is proposed as part of a wider secondary review arising from falling rolls and surplus places in other schools; and whether he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend will consider proposals by a local education authority for the closure or reorganisation of a school in accordance with the Education Act 1980 at the same time as he considers any proposals by the governing body of the school to become grant-maintained under the Education Reform Act 1988; but he will determine the latter proposals first. He will consider and decide all such proposals on their merits, taking all relevant factors into account.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set out in tabular form the progress, since the initial resolution of the governors, of each individual school which has expressed the desire to his Department to transfer to grant-maintained status; and how many firm inquiries have been made to his Department prior to an initial resolution of governors or a signed requisition by parents under the Education Reform Act 1988.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Department continues to receive a large number of inquiries from parents and governors about making an application for grant-maintained status. It receives formal notification of only two stages of such an applicationthe result of a ballot of parents; and where the parents have voted in favour of proceeding with an application, the subsequent publication of formal proposals by the governing body.

The Education Reform Act 1988 requires the Secretary of State in due course to determine any such proposals. The table shows the stage which individual schools have reached:

School and LEA Ballot result "Yes/No" Proposals published
Skegness Grammar School, Lincs Yes
Audenshaw County High School,Tameside Yes
St. James's CE School, Bolton Yes
Wilson's School, Sutton Yes
Hendon School, Barnet Yes
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford, Lincs Yes
Queensbury School, Beds Yes
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, Kent Yes
Sir James Altham School, Herts Yes
London Oratory School, ILEA Yes
Queen Elizabeth's Boys' School, Barnet Yes
Blessed Hugh More RC School, Lincs Yes
Castlemount School, Kent Yes
Heckmondwike Grammar School,Kirklees Yes
South Park High School, Lincs. Yes
London Nautical School, ILEA Yes
Netherthorpe School, Derbyshire Yes
Ramsden School for Girls, Bromley Yes
Bankfield County High School,Cheshire Yes
The King's School, Grantham, Lincs Yes
Southfield School for Girls, Northants Yes
Baverstock School, Birmingham Yes
Small Heath School, Birmingham Yes
Colyton Grammar School, Devon Yes
Foster's Grammar School For Boys,Dorset Yes
Lord Digby's Grammar School For Girls, Dorset Yes
Castle Hall Middle School, Kirklees Yes

School and LEA Ballot result "Yes/No" Proposals published
Ravensbourne School For Girls, Bromley No
Sale Grammar School For Boys, Trafford No
Queen Elizabeth High School, Rochdale No
Chesterfield School, Derbyshire No
Millais School, West Sussex No
Wilmington Grammar School For Boys, Kent No
Chichele School, Northants No
Droylsden County High School, Tameside No
Siddal Moor High School, Rochdale No
Hadham Hall School, Herts No

In addition, I understand that the following schools have received a request from parents or passed governors' resolutions requiring that a ballot be held:

  • Hindley Park High School, Wigan
  • Gaynes School, Havering
  • Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Lancashire
  • Weald of Kent Grammar School For Girls, Kent
  • St. Francis Xavier's School, Liverpool
  • Beechen Cliff School, Avon
  • Claremont High School, Brent
  • St. Helena School, Derbyshire
  • Ribston Hall High School, Gloucestershire
  • Marling Grammar School, Gloucestershire
  • Stroud Girls' High School, Gloucestershire
  • Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, ILEA
  • Knowsley Ruffwood Comprehensive School, Knowsley
  • Long Field High School, Leicestershire
  • Kettering Boys' School, Northamptonshire
  • The Guildford County School, Surrey