HC Deb 12 June 1990 vol 174 cc177-8W
37. Mr. Robert. B. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the level of funding available for grant-maintained schools.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Government's policy is that each grant-maintained school should be funded at the level its former local education authority would have spent on it. This includes provision for services previously provided centrally, which amounted on average to about 15 per cent. of the direct costs of the schools in 1989–90.

70. Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from teachers at grant-maintained schools about the new system of grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has not received any such formal representations. Grant-maintained status has been welcomed by teachers as well as by governors and parents. For example, in a recent report to the governing body the head teacher of Bankfield school in Widnes said the new freedom of action as a grant-maintained school had helped raise morale among the school community. He saidMorale amongst staff is exceptionally high—and this has had a beneficial effect on our pupils. The school is totally united, staff, pupils, parents as never before".

72. Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils attend grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

We have recent information on the numbers of pupils in 41 of the 42 schools which my right hon. Friend has so far approved or is minded to approve for grant-maintained status. In January 1990 there were 29,200 pupils in those schools.

81. Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is planning to take to make it easier for schools to achieve grant-maintained status.

Mrs. Rumbold

It is open to all LEA-maintained secondary schools, and LEA-maintained primary schools with 300 or more pupils, to consider the option of seeking grant-maintained status. It is for parents and governors to decide whether to put a proposal for grant-maintained status to my right hon. Friend. The statutory procedure requires that each proposal for grant-maintained status together with any statutory objections is considered carefully by my right hon. Friend.