Response from DoE
Paul Welsh
Dear Mr Gibb
I write to you in your role as Minister of State for Schools.
I note that the Academies Bill will allow grammar schools to retain
academic selection if they choose to become academies.
As you will be aware, the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998
means that the governing bodies of grammar schools can be challenged
by parental ballot if they choose to drop their selective admissions
criteria.
If a grammar school converts to a selective academy then these
parental ballot provisions will, in effect, be removed.
Conservative policy is to retain existing grammar schools where there
is parental support but the governing bodies of selective academies
will, on the face of it, be able to drop selection with no reference
to parents. Academies only require one parent governor.
Are you able to reassure me that the new category of selective
academies will not be permitted to drop selection without the approval
of parents?
---
Today I received a reply from Michael Frain, Academies Policy, Finance
and Performance Division, as follows. Note that Mr Frain cannot spell
the word "grammar", which is a bit of a worry.
However, it seems the Department is aware of grammars becoming
selective academies and then, shortly after, non-selective academies:
Dear Mr Welsh,
Thank you for your email dated 31 May 2010 about Academies.
We believe it is only fair that schools are given the same
opportunities to benefit from Academy freedoms as all other schools in
the state-funded sector without them having to make fundamental
changes to their admission arrangements. It is not the Government's
intention for grammer schools to become academies and then
subsequently at a later date remove the selection criteria. We are
currently looking at this policy and should be in a position to
provide more information shortly.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Frain
Academies Policy, Finance and Performance Division
Michae...@education.gsi.gov.uk
ni...@cre.org.uk
Good shot, Paul!
Please note the fundamental in 'fundamental changes to their admission
arrangements'. So they could be incremental! Also it is 'not the
Government's intention for grammer (sic) schools to become academies and
then subsequently at a later date remove the selection criteria'.
It may not be the stated intention - that doesn't mean it can't or won't
happen by stealth.
Best, Nick.
Dear Mr Gibb
---
Dear Mr Welsh,
Yours sincerely,
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