HC Deb 21 May 1991 vol 191 cc424-5W
22. Mr. Riddick

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

Mr. Eggar

There are 62 grant-maintained schools in operation. To date we have approved applications from a further 16 schools.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to increase the number of grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

The number of schools seeking and acquiring grant-maintained status is rising very rapidly. To date we have approved 78 applications. A further 74 schools have either published proposals or are committed to doing so following ballots in favour of applying for GM status. Seventy-nine ballots are pending. In the last three months alone, 49 schools have voted to apply for grant-maintained status.

We shall continue to make clear that we believe schools generally should consider the opportunities afforded by grant-maintained status.

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