To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what the requirements are for approval by primary schools of local primary strategies for change, before formal agreement to a strategy by the Department; (181482)

To be approved by the Department the primary strategy for change should:

follow the format and content specified in the guidance document issued on 6 December:

demonstrate how the views of local stakeholders have been taken into account:

be endorsed by the council and the relevant Diocesan authorities and have the support of the majority of schools:

address areas of known concern, particularly those specified by the Department.

To date neither I nor my officials have had any contact with the council about specific areas of concern that we would expect to be addressed through the primary strategy for change. However, we have committed to giving early warning (by no later than the end of January 2008) to those local authorities to which this applies. Key considerations will be in relation to low performing schools or excess surplus places.