§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her oral statement of 16 July 2002, if successful grammar schools will be eligible to take over failing schools under the proposed arrangements. [71555]
§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 19 July 2002]: In the document Education and Skills: Investment for Reform, which we published on the day of my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 16 July, we made clear that we would be looking at a range of ways of encouraging federations and partnerships between weaker and more successful schools, including a successful school taking over a failing school. We shall provide more details on these proposals later in the year. There is no reason why successful grammar schools should not be involved in forms of federation and partnership consistent with their grammar school status, where that is appropriate to local needs and circumstances. But in doing this we will remain true to our principle of no extension of selection by ability.