§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of schools that will become specialist schools in each of the next three years. [52531]
§ Mr. TimmsBy September 2002 we expect there to be at least 150 more specialist schools joining the 834 already designated. This puts us well on course to exceed our target of 1,000 by 2003 and to reach our goal of at least 1,500 specialist schools by 2005.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of current applications to establish specialist schools contain a request to select more than 5 per cent. of their intake by aptitude. [52532]
§ Mr. TimmsNone of the specialist school applications currently being assessed by my Department include a request to select a proportion of their intake by aptitude. School admission arrangements are a matter for local determination; they do not require approval by my Department.
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§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many maintained specialist schools there are in England. [52533]
§ Mr. TimmsThere are currently 685 maintained specialist schools in England. A further 149 have been designated for September 2002.