Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Nick Gibb and Tracey Crouch(14 years, 10 months ago)
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Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con)
15. What recent progress has been made by schools in Chatham and Aylesford constituency which are converting to academy status.
The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb)
The Department has received three applications to convert to academy status from schools in the Chatham and Aylesford constituency. Of the three schools that have applied to convert, two have received academy orders and the Secretary of State will consider the third application for an academy order very soon.
Tracey Crouch
The Minister will be aware that several schools across my constituency are keen to explore the possibility of becoming partnership academies. Will the Minister meet me and representatives of the schools to discuss the viability and future progress of these exciting proposals?
Mr Gibb
Yes, I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend and a delegation. Officials met officers at Medway council on Thursday and discussed proposals made by five of the schools in Medway. Officials propose to hold follow-up discussions with the five schools either individually or as a group. I look forward to meeting my hon. Friend and discussing this matter.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Nick Gibb and Tracey Crouch(15 years, 7 months ago)
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Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con)
11. How many expressions of interest in academy status his Department has received from schools in the Kent and Medway local authority area.
The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb)
Ninety-five expressions of interest in academy status have been received from schools in Kent, and nine expressions of interest have been received from schools in Medway.
Tracey Crouch
I thank the Minister for his reply, and I am sure that he will be reassured to hear that many of the head teachers I have spoken to are genuinely very enthusiastic about the programme. The Minister will be aware that many of the schools in Kent and Medway that have expressed an interest are grammar schools. Can he assure the House that if they were to become academies they would retain their selective status?