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Connahs Quay High School

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will visit Connahs Quay high school to discuss her proposed superannuation scheme. [9982]

Mrs. Gillan: No.

Failing Schools

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many primary schools (a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry were classified as failing in (i) 1994-95 and (ii) 1995-96; [9986]

Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested is given in the table:

1994-951995-96
Number of failing primary schools
Nationally46116
West Midlands411
Coventry--1
Number of failing secondary schools
Nationally3565
West Midlands24
Coventry----

1. The answer covers the academic years 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1995 and 1 September 1995 to 31 August 1996.

2. The classification of failure applies from the date that the school received the Office for Standards in Education published report.

3. The numbers include those schools which were subsequently restored to health or were closed. They do not include five failing special schools which have both primary and secondary provision, one of which is in the west midlands (Walsall).

4. The west midlands region has been defined as comprising Coventry, Walsall, Staffordshire, Solihull, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester, and Sandwell.


13 Jan 1997 : Column: 74

National Curriculum (Exempt Schools)

Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which schools are exempt from the national curriculum; and if she will make a statement. [9970]

Mrs. Gillan: Independent schools, non-maintained special schools, maintained special schools established in hospitals, and pupil referral units are the only schools which do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Consultants

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates she has made of the amount spent on external consultants by her Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10166]

Mr. Robin Squire: Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the actions her Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10167]

Mr. Squire: On 23 February 1995, the Employment Department sent the efficiency unit an action plan for implementing all the recommendations of the original report which were relevant to the Department.

The action plan is being implemented. The merger of the Department for Education and the Employment Department afforded an opportunity to review the guidance available on the use of external consultants. New guidance issued since the merger and procurement and contract management guidance, due to be issued by the end of this financial year, takes full account of the recommendations.

Challenge Fund Grants

Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the eligibility criteria for awarding grants under the challenge fund for science equipment announced in the Budget; and if she will make a statement. [9886]

Mr. Forth: It is for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to decide on the detailed criteria for its 1997-98 research equipment initiative. The council intends to finalise the criteria before the end of the current financial year, and details will be placed in the Library. The 1996 Budget letter to the council made clear, however, that the £20 million grant earmarked for research equipment would be expected to generate matching private funds from industry and other users of research.

GCSE Scores

Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of school leavers gained GCSE grades A* to C in (a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by grade. [9975]

13 Jan 1997 : Column: 75

Mrs. Gillan: The information requested is not available for school leavers. However, the percentage of 15-year-olds in England who gained GCSE grades A* to C in (a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science in 1994-95 were as follows:

Mathematics Per cent.English Per cent.Science Per cent.
Grade A*223
Grade A787
Grade B131715
Grade C192318
Grades A* to C405043

On-the-job Training

Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of employees of working age received on-the-job training in (a) the south-west and (b) the United Kingdom broken down by gender in the most recent year for which figures are available. [9977]

Mr. Paice: From the spring 1996 labour force survey, the percentage of employees of working age who received on-the-job training in the four weeks prior to the interview is:

Total Per cent.Men Per cent.Women Per cent.
South west6.66.46.9
United Kingdom6.36.26.4

Information on the number receiving training in a year is not available in the form requested.

Schools (Parental Choice)

Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the recent Audit Commission report on the Government's policies in respect of parental choice over school places and provision. [10406]

Mr. Robin Squire: The Audit Commission's report "Trading Places" covers some important topics. I welcome the attention it gives to removing surplus

13 Jan 1997 : Column: 76

places, which we have been emphasising for some time. I also welcome its acknowledgement that Government policies have driven up standards.

I am, however, disappointed with some of the simplistic conclusions the commission draws. There is no mismatch between LEAs' responsibilities and their powers. LEAs can determine their own priorities. They retain all the powers they need to manage the supply of school places and to respond, with other providers, to parental choice. It remains true that some LEAs have been rather slow in removing surplus places.

School Expenditure

Mr. Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is (a) the average sum per pupil and (b) the average percentage of the general schools budget, allotted by each local education authority in the current financial year for (i) mandatory exception from delegation, (ii) discretionary exceptions outside the potential schools budget, (iii) discretionary exceptions within the potential schools budget and (iv) the aggregate schools budget; [10401]

Mr. Robin Squire: The table sets out the information requested, except in respect of two items. In relation to funding allocated via age-weighted pupil units, I shall write to my hon. Friend when the requisite figures have been extracted and collated. Where a local education authority has chosen to delegate funding which it might have retained as a discretionary exception outside--or within--the potential schools budget, the amounts in question form part of the aggregated schools budget and cannot ordinarily be separately identified from the LEA's local management of schools' financial statements.

13 Jan 1997 : Column: 75

Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB--Section 122 1996-97

Aggregated schools budget Discretionary exceptions within the PSB Discretionary exceptions outside the PSB Mandatory exceptions
LEA£ per pupilpercentage of GSB£ per pupilpercentage of GSB£ per pupilpercentage of GSB£ per pupilpercentage of GSB
Barking/Dagenham2,03160.82,2446.41444.39520.3
Barnet1,99467.32,2308.01715.85610.2
Barnsley1,51270.91,7059.11798.42480.1
Bath and North-east Somerset1,92677.12,1478.81616.51900.1
Bedfordshire1,77173.61,9166.02058.51670.1
Berkshire1,82576.81,9535.41094.63140.1
Bexley1,71873.51,8706.51446.23230.1
Birmingham1,97177.12,1587.32148.41840.1
Bolton1,69474.61,9139.72018.81560.1
Bradford1,68464.81,8767.42208.55020.2
Brent2,04271.02,1574.01836.45340.2
Bristol2,11378.72,3288.01575.91990.1
Bromley1,68971.11,94510.8994.23320.1
Buckinghamshire1,70468.61,9148.41365.54370.2
Bury1,76278.21,9066.42219.81270.1
Calderdale1,63669.51,8378.51667.13530.1
Cambridgeshire1,67067.61,8667.91807.34230.2
Camden2,53063.62,8688.51864.79240.2
Cheshire1,78477.01,9557.41586.82030.1
Cornwall1,73069.81,9599.31747.03450.1
Corporation of London3,19666.93607.54399.27800.2
Coventry1,93476.42,1277.61315.22720.1
Croydon1,93472.32,1186.92258.43320.1
Cumbria1,78073.91,9497.01988.22630.1
Derbyshire1,55170.71,7388.522810.42260.1
Devon1,76575.61,9347.31928.22060.1
Doncaster1,79571.92,0429.91827.32730.1
Dorset1,61073.01,7948.41326.02780.1
Dudley1,75281.61,8233.31527.11710.1
Durham1,68174.11,8989.61818.01900.1
Ealing2,01976.52,2318.12629.91460.1
East Riding1,85477.42,0699.02309.6970.0
East Sussex1,84074.22,0438.21877.52500.1
Enfield1,91668.52,1247.41585.75140.2
Essex1,75175.51,9438.31807.81950.1
Gateshead1,80666.52,08110.11495.54880.2
Gloucestershire1,64073.31,7977.01215.43180.1
Greenwich2,35778.62,5305.82207.32500.1
Hackney2,35568.82,6358.240511.83820.1
Hammersmith/Fulham2,50573.52,7457.139011.42730.1
Hampshire1,87276.92,0547.51445.92350.1
Haringey2,13464.92,47110.22437.45730.2
Harrow2,09677.12,3278.5752.83160.1
Hartlepool1,68576.71,8929.41587.21460.1
Havering1,89483.62,0567.1904.01200.1
Hereford/Worcester1,72475.01,910811205.22680.1
Hertfordshire1,89179.12.0195.41707.12000.1
Hillingdon1,91572.52,1247.91345.13850.1
Hounslow2.06172.92,2908.11384.94000.1
Hull1,73577.41,9318.82029.01090.0
Isle of Wight1,75776.41,9558.61486.51950.1
Isles of Scilly3,28976.93,5235.52816.64730.1
Islington2,3136812,4644.41945.77410.2
Kensington/Chelsea2,80472.63,0927.52295.95390.1
Kent1,75374.41,9719.21195.12670.1
Kingston1,92680.32,1218.1833.51950.1
Kirklees1,69373.51,9039.11777.72220.1
Knowsley1,88577.52,0255.72048.42030.1
Lambeth2,36166.12,7009.52978.35740.2
Lancashire1,73673.11,9539.22018.42210.1
Leeds1,84072.21,9644.91676.54190.2
Leicestershire1,75076.21,98810.41767.71310.1
Lewisham2,28578.62,5328.52368.11400.0
Lincolnshire1,81575.12,0339.01285.32540.1
Liverpool1,82476.31,9676.01857.72380.1
Manchester1,83771.22,0016.42359.13460.1
Merton1,93363.72,1557.3772.58020.3
Middlesbrough1,76166.82,0009.11836.94510.2
North-east/Lincolnshire1,80177.42,0058.72189.41050.0
Newcastle1,85574.62,0849.22018.12010.1
Newham1,85568.42,17911.91907.03440.1
Norfolk1,84672.02,0246.92228.73170.1
North Lincolnshire1,81375.22,0429.524210.01290.1
North Somerset1,89177.42,1119.01586.51730.1
North Tyneside1,76973.21,9236.41837.63120.1
North Yorkshire1,82879.22,0188.31817.81080.0
Northamptonshire1,77074.91,9055.71245.23340.1
Northumberland1,73975.31,9097.42299.91720.1
Nottinghamshire1,58873.91,7869.21969.11680.1
Oldham1,81177.91,9957.91908.21380.1
Oxfordshire1,79870.51,9546.11515.94460.2
Redbridge1,95975.22,1316.61294.93460.1
Redcar and Cleveland1,74176.51,9579.51657.31510.1
Richmond2,03281.32,2267.8552.22170.1
Rochdale1,70176.21,8225.42019.02100.1
Rotherham1,73278.01,9339.11346.01530.1
Salford1,77566.31,9596.91917.15280.2
Sandwell1,69275.21,8989.11416.32110.1
Sefton1,82174.72,0378.91546.32440.1
Sheffield1,69072.81,93410.51898.11980.1
Shropshire1,71871.21,8716.32148.93270.1
Solihull1,83481.81,9434.91617.21370.1
Somerset1,76977.91,9397.51135.02190.1
South Gloucestershire1,86374.02,0758.41726.82710.1
South Tyneside1,66874.81,8769.31436.42090.1
Southwark2,25571.92,5248.62999.53130.1
St. Helens1,82177.12,0258.62018.51360.1
Staffordshire1,67577.51,8015.81717.91890.1
Stockport1,80174.41,9757.21506.22940.1
Stockton on Tees1,79078.71,9808.32059.0880.0
Suffolk1,87979.42,0306.41667.01700.1
Sunderland1,81977.51,9385.11486.32610.1
Surrey1,86072.02,0557.62268.73020.1
Sutton1,89666.72,0756.31746.15920.2
Tameside1,55666.81,7317.51657.14330.2
Tower Hamlets2,24165.42,5037.62527.46720.2
Trafford1,55672.71,7579.41476.92360.1
Wakefield1,58662.01,8189.11847.25560.2
Walsall1,75878.91,9568.9843.71900.1
Waltham Forest2,16073.82,2994.82558.73740.1
Wandsworth2,31372.72,5858.52437.63550.1
Warwickshire1,71366.61,9077.61857.24800.2
West Sussex1,79577.42,0129.41396.01670.1
Westminster2,35171.72,6298.52156.54350.1
Wigan1,89277.72,0376.01797.42170.1
Wiltshire1,71373.51,9048.224610.61800.;1
Wirral1,78075.31,9627.71847.82190.1
Wolverhampton1,75674.91,9066.41626.92830.1
York1,71878.61,9319.81195.41360.1

The information in this table has been derived from financial statements produced under the section 122 of the Education Act 1996 (formerly section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988), incorporating LEAs' changes to their statements notified to the Department by 31 December 1996.


13 Jan 1997 : Column: 79

Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB--Section 122 1996-97

Premature retirement compensation Home to school transport Cost of statements School meals (net of income)
£ per pupilPercentage of GSB£ per pupilPercentage of GSB£ per pupilPercentage of GSB£ per pupilPercentage of GSB
Barking/Dagenham160.5270.8740.1712.1
Barnet130.4602.0750.1391.3
Barnsley190.9160.8880.1783.7
Bath and North-east Somerset441.8803.2680.1391.6
Bedfordshire220.9652.7190.0652.7
Berkshire100.4572.4150.0251.1
Bexley50.2251.1510.1431.9
Birmingham230.9491.9410.0943.7
Bolton200.9351.5830.1592.6
Bradford381.4391.5810.01013.9
Brent421.5592.0180.0702.4
Bristol411.5461.7240.0702.6
Bromley60.3361.51000.2401.7
Buckinghamshire150.6823.3360.0170.7
Bury381.7231.0180.0934.1
Calderdale251.1200.9880.2612.6
Cambridgeshire220.9612.5900.0451.8
Camden70.2541.3630.1882.2
Cheshire220.9572.4400.0170.7
Cornwall190.8602.41200.1492.0
Corporation of London190.450.100.03136.6
Coventry261.0291.1330.0672.6
Croydon100.4511.9500.1511.9
Cumbria461.9622.6720.1421.7
Derbyshire221.0482.2930.0874.0
Devon281.2893.8610.0401.7
Doncaster271.1240.9960.1532.1
Dorset160.7733.3430.0251.2
Dudley180.8281.3110.0542.5
Durham231.0612.7830.0512.2
Ealing200.8772.9660.1772.9
East Riding251.1853.660.0582.4
East Sussex90.4512.1360.0582.4
Enfield190.7291.0700.1652.3
Essex60.3763.3870.0341.5
Gateshead351.3271.0320.0762.8
Gloucestershire221.0713.2720.1301.3
Greenwich40.1521.790.0983.3
Hackney170.5932.7550.11333.9
Hammersmith/Fulham110.3972.8670.11614.7
Hampshire130.5471.9240.0391.6
Haringey190.6341.0150.01063.2
Harrow120.4321.2740.1261.0
Hartlepool231.0281.3160.0703.2
Havering120.5231.0610.1251.1
Hereford/Worcester90.4733.2760.0160.7
Hertfordshire140.6592.5680.0170.7
Hillingdon150.6923.5210.000.0
Hounslow90.3371.3400.0521.9
Hull301.3442.070.0833.7
Isle of Wight100.4582.5700.2562.4
Isles of Scilly781.8741.720718.91022.4
Islington00.0511.5420.1742.2
Kensington/Chelsea160.470.2690.21463.8
Kent130.5723.1720.0351.5
Kingston220.9351.5720.2220.9
Kirkless210.9351.5640.0562.4
Knowsley291.2361.5140.0984.0
Lambeth40.1712.01680.21313.7
Lancashire311.3562.31070.0532.3
Leeds220.9311.2200.0532.1
Leicestershire140.6642.8850.0421.8
Lewisham50.2351.2650.11043.6
Lincolnshire231.0953.9690.0140.6
Liverpool341.4341.4360.0883.7
Manchester501.9401.680.01194.6
Merton270.9351.1880.130.1
Middlesbrough110.4220.8170.0712.7
North-east Lincolnshire411.8321.4120.0783.4
Newcastle00.0230.9520.11114.5
Newham261.0331.21050.1883.2
Norfolk180.7953.7730.0481.9
North Lincolnshire341.4662.740.0692.8
North Somerset401.6813.3720.1401.7
North Tyneside351.4231.0630.1783.2
North Yorkshire110.51114.8470.0200.9
Northamptonshire110.5532.3190.0281.2
Northumberland401.7803.5640.1391.7
Nottinghamshire452.1361.7120.0562.6
Oldham170.7170.7160.0723.1
Oxfordshire421.6793.1630.0371.5
Redbridge130.5562.2190.0321.2
Redcar and Cleveland241.0341.5290.0612.7
Richmond100.4271.1730.200.0
Rochdale251.1261.1360.11024.6
Rotherham130.6291.3310.0512.3
Salford341.3461.7420.0853.2
Sandwell110.5371.6310.0612.7
Sefton261.1281.1400.0712.9
Sheffield401.7351.5780.0753.2
Shropshire281.2903.7410.0361.5
Solihull180.8311.4470.1311.4
Somerset170.7723.2800.1271.2
South Gloucestershire351.4542.1670.1692.8
South Tyneside251.1160.7160.0743.3
Southwark100.3872.8650.11183.8
St. Helens441.9542.3710.1602.5
Staffordshire271.3472.2480.0401.8
Stockport140.6241.0660.1562.3
Stockton on Tees50.2301.3240.0602.6
Suffolk130.6783.3450.0210.9
Sunderland100.4261.1380.0592.5
Surrey180.7983.8710.0281.1
Sutton60.2451.6270.1461.6
Tameside271.2341.5500.1241.0
Tower Hamlets210.6481.4820.11353.9
Trafford190.9341.6490.1482.2
Wakefield200.8311.2610.0793.1
Walsall301.3200.9340.0552.5
Waltham Forest200.7431.540.0732.5
Wandsworth140.4822.61070.2722.3
Warwickshire351.4682.6230.0431.7
West Sussex30.1532.3400.0301.3
Westminster150.5270.8770.11133.5
Wigan461.9321.3240.0532.2
Wiltshire210.91134.9520.0482.0
Wirral451.9532.2400.0672.8
Wolverhampton502.2351.5220.0753.2
York100.5452.1550.1331.5

The information in this table has been derived from financial statements produced under the section 122 of the Education Act 1996 (formerly section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988), incorporating LEAs' changes to their statements notified to the Department by 31 December 1996.


13 Jan 1997 : Column: 83

13 Jan 1997 : Column: 83


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