ASSISTED PLACES SCHEME

That this House supports the assisted places scheme as a bridge between the maintained and independent sectors; notes that the scheme extends a choice to low-income families that they would not otherwise enjoy; supports its continued expansion so that even more children can benefit from the education best suited to their needs and abilities; and further notes that in 1996-97 over 36,000 children from low-income families will benefit, that 42 per cent. of places are free because the families concerned have incomes of less than ú9,800, that the average income of AP families is ú10,600 per annum, that in 1995-96, 73 per cent. of AP pupils achieved A or B grades at GCSE, 51 per cent. at A-level, that in 1995-96, 90 per cent. of AP school leavers went on to higher education, that 66 per cent. of respondents support the AP scheme, including 80 per cent. of Conservative supporters, 64 per cent. of Lib Dem and 55 per cent. of Labour (MORI 1995) and that successive MORI polls have found that a majority would choose an independent school for their children if they could afford one.