[holding answer 19 January 2007]: The category of foundation school was established by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. There was a moratorium on changes of category following the introduction of the new schools framework, and no proposals were published until 2001. Schools wishing to change category do not have to submit an expression of interest to the Department, and proposals to change category are decided locally. The following table indicates how many schools have published proposals to change category to foundation, and how many were approved:
Number of proposals published Number of proposals approved Awaiting decision 2001 16 15 — 2002 12 11 — 2003 6 6 — 2004 4 3 — 2005 11 11 — 2006 39 37 2
[holding answer 19 January 2007]: The following table details the numbers of primary and secondary foundation schools each year since 1999:
Primary Secondary Total 1999 359 500 859 2000 359 500 859 2001 357 497 854 2002 362 501 863 2003 365 510 875 2004 364 514 878 2005 366 513 879 2006 363 530 893
The 1999 figures reflect the position at 1 September 1999 following the introduction of the new schools framework, and subsequent figures have been derived from Annual Schools Census returns made by schools to the Department in January each year.