§ Lord Hanningfieldasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many competitions for new secondary schools there have been in 2003, 2004 and 2005 to date.[HL614]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Filkin)There have been no competitions for new secondary schools since the requirement for a competition for additional secondary schools was introduced in June 2003. The Education Bill currently before Parliament will extend the requirement for a competition to all new secondary schools, including schools replacing existing schools as a result of reorganisation, unless the Secretary of State agrees that in a particular case the objectives of increasing the quality and diversity of provision could be met by other proposals commanding support in the area.
§ Lord Hanningfieldasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many replacement secondary schools have been approved in 2003, 2004 and 2005 to date.[HL615]
§ Lord FilkinThe numbers of proposals for replacement secondary schools approved since 2003 are as follows:
Number 2003 9 2004 7 2005 (to date) 0 These figures include proposals for new maintained secondary schools that have been approved by the LEA, school organisation committee or schools adjudicator under local decision-making arrangements. They include proposals for schools to be established as a result of local reorganisations and amalgamations and for voluntary or foundation schools with a religious character to replace existing community schools.
These figures exclude academies as they are classed as independent state schools and approved under separate arrangements. Funding agreements were agreed and signed for two academies as replacement secondary schools in 2003 and a further 11 in 2004.