HC Deb 23 January 2003 vol 398 c463W
Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of new consultants needed to assess applications for the Leadership Incentive grants; and if he will make a statement. [91524]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 20 January 2003]: We have offered each partnership formed for the purposes of the Leadership Incentive Grant the cost of 5 days of consultancy to facilitate collaborative working between groups of schools receiving the Leadership Incentive Grant. The number and composition of collaboratives of schools receiving the Leadership Incentive Grant will be determined according to local circumstances, but we estimate that there will be some 200 collaboratives. It will be possible for a Leadership Consultant to facilitate up to three collaboratives.

There is no requirement for schools to complete an application for the Leadership Incentive Grant. Leadership Collaboratives will be required to produce a collaborative plan to be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. Plans will be assessed within the Department, using existing resources.