§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which grant-maintained schools have hosted "Going GM" open days at the request of the Department; how many invitations have been issued to each; how many people have attended each; what has been the cost of each; and how many further such open days it is planned to hold. [28608]
§ Mrs. GillanGM schools "open days" have given head teachers and governors from local authority schools opportunities to see how GM schools are run and to discuss the implications of GM status with staff and governors. Since March 1994 the Department has supported 26 such open days, with a further six scheduled to take place this 155W term. We do not hold information on the number of invitations sent. An average of 14 delegates attend each of the days held so far. Costs vary, because schools make their own arrangements. The average cost so far, where a claim has been submitted, is some £430 for staff costs, including preparation for the day, and some £540 for other costs such as administered and catering. The average cost per head is some £70. We are reviewing the range of activities undertaken to provide information about the GM programme, taking account of the forthcoming White Paper on extending self-government for schools.