HL Deb 24 June 1998 vol 591 cc21-2WA
Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, under the School Standards and Framework Bill, local education authorities will be empowered to initiate school reorganisation proposals, including proposals affecting admission arrangements, for consideration by the organisational committee and where necessary the Adjudicator; and if so, what powers will foundation schools as admission authorities in their own right have to resist any such proposal. [HL2306]

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)

Local education authorities will be able to propose to close any school, to open community and foundation schools and to make prescribed alterations to community schools. A local education authority does not have the power to publish proposals to change the admission arrangements of a foundation school or a voluntary school. The only prescribed alteration they will be able to propose to a foundation school is an enlargement of its premises. They will also be able to propose that a community school changes its category to become a foundation school.

Any governing body may object to proposals made by an LEA. This will mean that the proposals are considered by the school organisation committee.