Public Services Management Update: Social classes

THE LONDON Borough of Hillingdon is to merge its education and social services departments, now that three- quarters of its secondary pupils are in grant-maintained schools. Of 17 secondary schools, nine have opted out, two have applied to do so and two are due to close (one has already done so). Of the 66 primary schools in the borough, two have opted out, one has applied and one is balloting.