SPONSORED GRANT-MAINTAINED SCHOOLS - EXTENDING THE FRANCHISE

The 1993 Education Act introduced changes that encouraged the supply-s ide of the quasi-market of schools. As a result of that Act, since Apr il 1994, it has been possible for groups of parents or independent spo nsors to apply to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in England or the Secretary of State for Wales to establish their own grant-maintained schools. Additionally, existing faith-based or other private schools are now able to apply to become re-established as gran t-maintained schools. This article traces the attempts of various exis ting private schools and potential sponsors to establish new schools w ithin the state system. Very few have so far been successful, and it i s argued that the Funding Agency for Schools and the Department for Ed ucation and Employment are operating the new scheme in ways similar to those of a commercial franchise.