HC Deb 26 November 1992 vol 214 cc758-60W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research his Department has commissioned into the effect of the acquisition of grant-maintained status on school effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth

It is not necessary to commission special research into the effect of the acquisition of grant-maintained status on school effectiveness. The publication of school performance tables under the parents charter, in which each school's type is clearly stated, will help all concerned to judge the relative effectiveness of different types of school. Her Majesty's inspectorate's observation of GM schools has already attested to their effectiveness. The Office for Standards in Education will undertake some full inspections of GM schools over the coming year as part of its programme for training registered inspectors.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list those local education authorities in which at least 15 per cent. of primary or secondary schools will be grant-maintained by January 1993, and those local education authorities in which at least 10 per cent. either of primary or secondary pupils will be educated in grant-maintained schools in January 1993.

Mr. Forth

On the basis of proposals approved to date, in the following LEAs at least 15 per cent. of secondary schools will be GM by January 1993:

Berkshire Dorset
Bromley Ealing
Essex Northamptonshire
Gloucestershire Surrey
Hillingdon Sutton
Kensington Wandsworth
Kent Warwickshire
Lincolnshire

There are no LEAs in which 15 per cent. of primary schools will be GM by January 1993.

On the basis of schools already operating as GM or approved for incorporation up to and including April 1993, and using latest available pupil numbers, we estimate that in the following LEAs at least 10 per cent. of secondary pupils will be educated in GM schools by April 1993. In the time available it is not possible to calculate figures for January 1993.

Barnet Hillingdon
Berkshire Kensington
Birmingham Kent
Brent Kingston-on-Thames
Bromley Lincolnshire
Buckinghamshire Norfolk
Calderdale Northamptonshire
Croydon Surrey
Cumbria Sutton
Dorset Walsall
Ealing Wandsworth
Essex Warwickshire
Gloucestershire Wolverhampton
Hammersmith

There are no LEAs at present where we estimate that 10 per cent. of primary pupils will be educated in GM schools by April 1993. Pupil numbers are based on January 1991 form 7 returns in respect of LEAs and numbers given in proposals for GM status submitted by schools in the case of schools operating or approved for GM status.

1989

October-December

Country Received Upheld Refused Withdrawn
India 209 52 173 37
Bangladesh 67 8 40 15
Pakistan 385 77 172 73
Ghana 57 6 21 10
Nigeria 106 3 20 5
Jamaica 32 11 12 5
EEC
Other 330 45 95 42
Total 1,186 202 533 187

1990
Country Received Upheld Refused Withdrawn
India 2,064 191 583 187
Bangladesh 880 61 290 96
Pakistan 1,614 327 869 186
Ghana 230 35 103 26
Nigeria 679 27 200 28
Jamaica 101 19 73 22
EEC 3 4 1
Other 2,543 169 567 212
Total 8,114 829 2,689 758