HC Deb 17 May 1991 vol 191 cc275-6W
Mr. Norris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have(a) become committed to hold a ballot on grant-maintained status, (b) voted yes and (i) had the proposals approved, (ii) had the proposal rejected and (iii) await determination of the proposal and (c) voted no; how many in each category were the subject of (1) closure or (2) reorganisation proposals; and whether, for schools in categories (b), (ii) and (c), the proposals have been approved or rejected.

Mr. Eggar

Two hundred and seventy-nine schools have been or are committed to holding a ballot on GM status. There have been 160 votes in favour, 47 votes against and 75 results are still awaited. Four schools have embarked on the process twice and one application lapsed.

Of the schools which voted in favour of applying for GM status, 77 applications have been approved and the Secretary of State is minded to approve another. Thirteen have been rejected and 45 have yet to be decided. Applications from a further 24 schools are awaited.

The number of schools in each category which have been the subject of closure or reorganisation proposals were:

Proposal date Decision date Description Local education authority
19 March 1984 25 February 1986 Secondary reorganisation Devon
23 November 1984 12 August 1985 Close two schools and establishment of a new secondary ILEA
23 November 1984 12 August 1985 Close two schools and establishment of a new secondary ILEA
9 July 1985 28 July 1986 Establishment Lubavitch House school as a voluntary aided instead of an independent ILEA
6 December 1985 17 September 1986 Reorganisation in Trafford Trafford
9 December 1985 7 January 1987 Establishment of a new Church of England primary school Avon
25 April 1986 24 May 1990 Application for aided status for the Islamia primary school Brent
15 September 1986 8 May 1987 Closure of St. Albans' Church of England secondary and establishment of secondary school Birmingham
23 October 1986 5 August 1987 Dudley reorganisation Dudley
2 January 1987 31 October 1988 Change status of Yesodey Hatorah primary school from independent to voluntary aided ILEA
15 December 1987 12 May 1988 Close one Roman Catholic infant and one Roman Catholic junior school and establishment of new Roman Catholic primary school Salford
26 February 1988 14 December 1988 Establish new Church of England (voluntary assisted) first school, Creekmoor, Poole Dorset
4 March 1988 16 February 1989 Establish St. Julian of Norwich high school in substitution for three Roman Catholic secondary modern schools Trafford
11 November 1988 1 September 1989 Amalgamate St. Bernard's convent and St. Thomas More high schools and establish a secondary school Essex
6 January 1989 15 September 1989 Amalgamate St. Mary's and St. Veronica's Roman Catholic primary schools and establish a new Roman Catholic primary school Lancashire
20 January 1989 13 March 1990 Establish a new Roman Catholic first and middle school in substitution for St. Mary's Roman Catholic primary school Norfolk

Number subject to closure/reorganisation proposals
GM proposals:
Approved 77 20
Minded to approve 1 0
Rejected 13 12
Not yet decided 45 15
Still to be published 24 6
Voted no 47 20
Lapsed applications 1 1
Ballot result pending 75 11
Total number of embarkations 283 85

Nine of the 12 LEA proposals involving schools with rejected GM applications were eventually approved. Twelve of the 20 LEA proposals involving schools which voted not to apply for GM status were approved.