§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the discussions that have taken place between Department officials, Surrey county council and Blenheim high school in Epsom about funding the future expansion of the school. [8830]
§ Mr. TimmsFollowing the decision to end grant maintained status, and after consultation with external partners, transitional regulations were put in place to fund capital work at grant maintained schools where obligations had been entered into or decisions taken by the Funding Agency for Schools or the Secretary of State before 1 September 1999. These transitional regulations enabled the Department to meet outstanding commitments for capital funding approved before this date.
Officials visited Blenheim high school in Epsom with a representative from Surrey local education authority on 1 August 2001. It was agreed that any shortfall in accommodation needed to implement the proposals published by the Funding Agency for Schools for the establishment of the school could be funded under the transitional regulations. Surrey local education authority has now provided details of its view of the shortfall and a proposal to address this. The proposal is currently being considered by the Department.
In addition to the possible shortfall in funding by the Funding Agency for Schools, proposed further future expansion of the school is the subject of an application for additional places made by Surrey local education 460W authority in the current schools capital allocation round. Decisions will be announced by the Department in December 2001.