Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government upon what basis the figure of £60 million each year for the expansion of grammar schools over the remainder of this Parliament was decided; who was consulted; and what calculations were made.

On September 12th the Secretary of State announced that we are consulting on a range of policy proposals aimed at increasing the number of good and outstanding school places.

As part of this, we proposed to make dedicated funding, of up to £50m a year, to support the expansion of existing selective schools to provide additional good quality selective places. This funding was confirmed at the Autumn Statement. In addition, Barnett Consequentials of £10m per year will be paid to the Devolved Administrations in the normal way.

The Department has considered a range of sources in arriving at this commitment, including the average costs of building under existing DfE programmes and bids to the Condition Improvement Fund.

Final proposals for the operation of the fund will be set out once we have considered responses to the current consultation.