HC Deb 20 December 1994 vol 251 c1119W
Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools' governing bodies were placed under a duty to consider during the school year 1993–94 whether to conduct a parental ballot on grant-maintained status and, in each case, how many ballots were held during 1993–94; and how many resulted in majorities in favour of grant-maintained status.

Mr. Robin Squire

The governing bodies of some 18,300 primary and 2,950 secondary schools in England were required during the 1993–94 school year to consider whether to hold a parental ballot on grant-maintained status.

During that year, 167 primary and 104 secondary schools held ballots. Of these, 107 ballots at primary schools and 52 at secondary schools resulted in a vote in favour of grant-maintained status.

Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools have had their admissions policies reviewed by her Department as a result of applying for(a) a change of character and (b) a change of admissions policy not amounting to a change of character; and what action has been taken.

Mr. Robin Squire

My right hon. Friend does not have a general power to require an admissions authority—a governing body of grant-maintained or voluntary-aided school, or a local education authority—to change its arrangements. When considering requests from grant-maintained schools for approval to vary their admission arrangements, officials may sometimes draw attention to aspects of the existing arrangements which appear to fall short of the guidance of best practice contained in circular 6/93. The Department does not keep a detailed record of such exchanges.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total cost for the central administration of grant-maintained schools for each year since the GMS system was implemented; and what is the central administrative cost per pupil being educated within a grant-maintained school for each year since the GMS system was implemented.

Mr. Robin Squire

This information is held by the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total budget for grant-maintained schools within Berkshire for 1994–95.

Mr. Robin Squire

The determination of grant for GM schools is now a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.

Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total budget for grant-maintained schools within Dorset for 1994–95.

Mr. Robin Squire

The determination of grant for GM schools is now a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.