Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of closure of Baverstock Academy in Druids Heath, Birmingham.

Whilst the Secretary of State has not yet arrived at a decision about Baverstock Academy’s future, the Department’s priority in making decisions about the future of any school is to assess which option will deliver the best educational outcomes for local children. The Secretary of State’s analysis is based on the Departmental priority that all children should have access to good or outstanding schools and on the overall value for money.

A range of factors inform the value for money judgement. These include the estimated costs of keeping the school open in its current form, introducing a new sponsor and closure. The Secretary of State will also consider the progress and attainment of pupils and standard of educational provision on offer to children in the local area. Baverstock’s financial viability and educational performance will be assessed in the light of the Department’s wider strategy to deliver good or outstanding school places for every child whilst maintaining efficient and effective use of resources.