Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Monday, 11 July 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 July 2011. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 July 2011 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Private Education: Scholarships

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the oral statement of 11 July 2011 on the Open Public Services White Paper, if he will make it his policy that independent schools may be able to provide places funded by the state only if the cost of doing so is no greater than the cost of providing a place in the state sector in the local education authority area.

Answer: [holding answer 14 July 2011]: Local authorities may purchase places in independent schools, and the negotiation of fee levels for pupils placed in independent schools by local authorities is a matter for the local authority concerned. Independent schools can apply to become free schools and receive state funding, which would give them equivalent funding to other publicly-funded schools of a similar character in the same local authority area.The majority of placements in independent schools are made to meet the specific needs of children with special education needs. The fees in these schools are therefore often much higher than the average cost of providing a place in a maintained school in the authority concerned. We have no plans to limit the ability of local authorities to pay fees to secure specialist provision they need.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 66232; 531 c912W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Open Public Services White Paper
Monday, 11 July 2011
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Private education Scholarships
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk