HC Deb 23 January 1992 vol 202 cc310-2W
Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his plans for capital grant expenditure for grant-maintained schools for the financial year 1992–93.

Mr. Eggar

The planned level of capital expenditure on grant-maintained schools in 1992–93 is £28–5 million.

Each grant-maintained school approved to begin by September 1992 is eligible to receive a formula based allocation to be used for small capital works and items of capital equipment. The formula will be £10,000 per school plus £20 per pupil. Schools becoming grant-maintained in September 1992 will be able to claim 7/12 of the full year allocation.

We have agreed allocations for named capital projects with a total value of £15.2 million to begin in 1992–93. Some projects are phased over two years. Of the 102 eligible schools 50 have received an allocation for a named capital project. Schools approved to become grant-maintained as from January and April 1992 have been invited to submit bids for capital projects by 27 January. There will be a further announcement for allocations to those schools in due course.

Within the total, there are allocations totalling some £8 million (including £5 million to be spent in 1992–93) for projects at 18 schools which form part of the technology schools initiative which was launched on 4 December. These allocations will enable schools to enhance their provision for technology-related subjects and take forward the teaching of technology in the national curriculum. Four of these schools have been selected as particularly well placed to develop an innovative and committed approach to technology education and be awarded GM technology school status: Bournemouth school, Ecclesbourne school, Great Barr school and St. George's school, Sleaford.

The proposed allocation of £500,000 to St. George's school, Sleaford for a technology block is complemented by a sponsored donation of £250,000 from Mr. Reg Brealey, the school's chairman of governors, through a charitable trust set up for the benefit of the school.

Grant-maintained schools continue to show their energy and commitment. I am sure that these capital allocations will help the schools to realise their full potential. I particularly welcome the allocations for projects within the technology schools initiative which I launched on 4 December.

I shall look to the four schools named as leaders in the field of technology teaching. They will develop close and practical links with business and industry.

The sponsor investment from Mr. Brealey is very generous and an example that I hope others will follow. St.

Named Project Capital allocations for grant-maintained schools in 1992–93
All figures are in £000s
School Project Total project allocation
Technology Schools Initiative
Beaconsfield High School New Technology block and refurbishment 750
Bournemouth School Rationalisation of Science and Technology facilities 546
Bullers Wood School for Girls, Chislehurst Technology block 375
Caistor Grammar School Technology, Science and IT building 287
Dartford Grammar School Technology and Science facilities 260
Ecclesbourne School, Duffield, Derby Technology facilities 780
Great Barr School, Birmingham Technology facilities 700
Kingswood School, Corby Food Technology, Graphics and Technology Rooms 330
Lancaster Royal Grammar School Information Technology Centre 124
Nonsuch High School for Girls, Cheam, Surrey Design and Technology extension and remodelling 700
Northwood School Technology block and conversion 400
Reading School Science and Technology facilities 630
Rickmansworth School Remodel and repair craft block 250
St. George's School, Sleaford Technology Block 1500
Watford Grammar School for Boys Conversions to Design and Technology Centre 180
Watford Grammar School for Girls Design and Technology facilities 400
Westcliff High School for Boys Technology block 280
Wolverhampton Girls High School Phase I—Craft, Design and Technology 450
Total for Technology 7,942
Other Allocations
Avon Valley School, Rugby Roof repair 17
Baverstock School, Birmingham Phase I—Building shell and Services 470
Beechen Cliff School, Avon Sanitary, drainage, asbestos etc 160
Bingley Grammar School Science Wing Extension 250
Bourne Abbey Primary Classrooms and Medical facilities 160
Chalvedon School, Basildon Re-cladding Middle School block 250
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Essential structural repairs 145
Collingwood School, Camberley, Surrey Fabric repairs 50
Crossley Heath School, Halifax Fire precaution work 210
Francis Bacon School St. Albans Renewal of boilers and associated work 30
Graveney School, Wandsworth Toilet refurbishment 100
Guildford County School New Classroom Block 370
Hardley School, Southampton Heating system repairs 130
Heckmondwike Grammar School Repairs—old block 200
Highams Park School, Waltham Forest Re-roof Technology workshops 29
Kingsley Park Middle School, Northampton Asbestos, fire escapes and Technology 50
Lancaster Girls Grammar School Upgrading of Toilets and Cloakroom 50
London Nautical School, Southwark Upgrade Science Laboratory 150
Long Field High School, Melton Mowbray Re-roofing phase II 100
Manor High School, West Midlands Upgrade site to Health and Safety requirements 60
Oldfield School, Bath Urgent fabric and structure work 50
Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham Phase II of re-build 1,997
Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys, Barnet Replace windows 50
Queensbury School, Dunstable Fire safety provisions 40
Queensmead School, Hillingdon Roofing 52
Ribston Hall High School, Gloucester Boilers and controls for heating 68
St. Bartholomew's School, Newbury, Berks Health and Safety 155
Stroud High School Science Block 780
Thamesview School, Gravesend Health and Safety 100
Vyners School, Hillingdon Science and Technology Block 638
Wilmington Boys Grammar School, Kent Boiler house renewal 145
Wilmington Girls Grammar School, Kent New Science Laboratory 170
Total other projects 7,226
1 Provisional allocation.
George's school in Sleaford has been interested for some time in becoming a technology school and this project will enable it to become a leader and developer of good practice.

The following is a list of the named capital allocations.

Back to