Quantock School Alumni

Commons Written Answers, 24 February 1997

[Referring back to the issue of the Quantock School and the Services Boarding School Allowance, Mr. Jamieson addresses his question to the Secretary of State for defence. The question is again answered by the Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr. Nicholas Soames.]

Subject: Quantock School

Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pupils are being financed by the Service Children's Education agency in years 12 and 13 at Quantock school, Taunton; and how much is being paid for each child.

Mr. Soames [holding answer 20 February 1997]: There is currently one pupil whose parents are in receipt of boarding school allowance in the sixth form at Quantock school. The cost to public funds is £2,350 per term.

Commons Written Answers, 27 February 1997

[Mr. Jamieson now turns the discussion of Quantock School towards the debate on Hong Kong, and the school's suitability as a financial recipient of funds provided by the Hong Kong government. The question is directed at the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the response is offered by the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. Jeremy Hanley (Con, Richmond & Barnes).]

Subject: Hong Kong

Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many children in British independent schools are being paid for by the Hong Kong Government; and what is the average payment per child; (2) what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Quantock school, Somerset, to receive money from the Hong Kong Government; and if parents who are employees of the Hong Kong Government with children at that school have been provided with the recent Office for Standards in Education report; (3) what checks are made by the Hong Kong Government on the suitability of independent schools in Britain before payment is made.

Mr. Hanley: Policy on the payment of education fees for the children of employees of the Hong Kong Government is a matter for the Hong Kong Government.

Commons Written Answers, 28 February 1997

[Directing his question to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, Mr. Jamieson raises the issue of the suitability of some of the teaching staff at Quantock School. The response is offered by the Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment, Mrs. Cheryl Gillan.]

Subject: Schools (Staff Checks)

Mr. Jaimeson [sic]: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her Department has made as to whether (a) the Bradfield House school, Cullompton, and (b) the Quantock school, Taunton, have made the legally required checks on the suitability of staff to work with children.

Mrs. Gillan [holding answer 27 February 1997]: Ofsted and social services departments, in the course of their inspections, examine schools' observance of the legal requirements in this area. The Department received a social services department report in December 1996 which drew attention to shortcomings in Bradfield House school's staff recruitment and vetting procedures. An agreement has been prepared between the school, Devon SSD and the police for implementing measures to improve these procedures. Advice about Quantock school, Tauton [sic], confirms that the correct procedures are followed.

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