Voluntary Schools (Hansard, 4 November 1992)

§ Sir Patrick Mayhew

The question of an increased capital grant rate to voluntary schools in Northern Ireland was raised during consultations on the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and, as my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) told the House in December 1989, our view has been that an increase in capital grants could be considered but would have to be accompanied by significant changes in management structure. Subsequently, in its sixteenth annual report presented to the House in July 1991, the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights recommended a review of the grant rate and accompanying administrative arrangements.

Discussions have taken place with the voluntary school authorities and it is clear from these that there are some voluntary schools which are having difficulty in meeting their share of the capital cost of necessary school developments. They have told me that these schools would welcome an opportunity for 100 per cent. capital funding; and that they would be content to operate under different management structures. I have also been mindful of the facts that the education reform process has in many cases increased the need for capital expenditure, and that grant-maintained status is not available in Northern Ireland.

At the same time, it is equally clear that parents, teachers, and the voluntary school authorities themselves would not wish to see any change in the distinctive ethos of the existing schools, including the denominational nature of many of these schools, and that any changes in grant rates and management structures would therefore have to be without prejudice to that distinctive ethos. It has been common ground throughout the discussions that parental rights of conscience in matters of education should not be affected or diminished in any way.

Against this background, I am pleased to say that we have identified in discussion an approach which I believe will meet the legitimate concerns both of the voluntary school authorities and of the Government. This will be to allow maintained schools and voluntary grammar schools to opt for designation as a new category of voluntary school which will be eligible for 100 per cent. capital grant. Such schools would, however, be managed by a board of governors on which no single interest group will command a majority of nominees. Similar management principles apply to controlled schools, and grant-maintained integrated schools which already have their capital costs met in full from public funds.

For example, in the case of a voluntary maintained school or voluntary grammar school with nine governors, only four would be appointed by the school trustees or foundation governors. The balance would be composed of representatives of parents, teachers, the relevant area education and library board, and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. In the case of Catholic maintained schools, the DENI nominee would be chosen after consultation with the Council for Catholic 243W maintained schools, which has a statutory duty to advise DENI on matters relating to Catholic maintained schools. I should emphasise that this would create a new additional category of voluntary school and existing schools will be able to decide to retain their present management structure and remain eligible for capital grant rate of 85 per cent.

Legislation proposals to give effect to these arrangements will be contained in a proposal for a draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order which I hope to publish early in 1993. The detail of the proposed new arrangements will be the subject of consultation in the normal way.