Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 16 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 January 2002. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Thursday, 24 January 2002 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assistance the Technology Colleges Trust is giving to schools seeking specialist status; how many grants have been facilitated by the Trust in order to help schools to meet the £50,000 threshold of specialist status since 1997; and if she will make a statement. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 23 January 2002).

Answer: Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance the Technology Colleges Trust is giving to schools seeking specialist status; how many grants have been facilitated by the trust in order to help schools to meet the £50,000 threshold of specialist status since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [29198] Mr. Timms: [holding answer 23 January 2002]: The Technology Colleges Trust is an independent charitable trust grant-aided by the Department to advise schools in drawing up applications, and through its work in promoting the Specialist Schools Programme attracts sponsorship to support individual school's applications. Detailed information on grants facilitated by the Technology Colleges Trust is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, we do have an analysis of applications for Arts, Technology and Language status in June and October 1999, and March 2000, which shows that of the 238 applications submitted 88 applicants included sponsorship facilitated through the Technology Colleges Trust.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 29198; 378 c1015-6W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Applications Finance Grants Schools Specialist schools Technology Colleges Trust
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk