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Outdoor Education
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review outdoor education in the context of the National Curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [75857]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The review of the National Curriculum for the year 2000 is looking at all areas of the school curriculum. This includes outdoor and adventurous activities, which is one of six areas of activity in the National Curriculum for Physical Education. We will be consulting widely on proposals for the revised National Curriculum in the summer.
Mature Students
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total number of applications from mature students to universities in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [75076]
12 Mar 1999 : Column: 432
Mr. Mudie
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: This information is given in the following table.
| Year of entry | Number of applications(9) |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 333,111 |
| 1997(10) | 334,767 |
| 1998(10) | 281,499 |
(7) Aged 21 or over
(8) Full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses
(9) Each applicant can make up to six applications
(10) Including applications to Art and Design courses which were included in the UCAS scheme for the first time in 1997.
The figures cover applications for full-time and sandwich students only, and exclude applications to part-time courses, which account for more than half of all mature undergraduate students. Early figures show that home and EU part-time numbers in England in 1998-99 are up by around 1 per cent.
The number of applications is not a reliable guide to the number of students who actually accept places; figures for the UK show that the number of mature students accepted for entry to full-time courses in 1998 exceeded the number accepted in 1996.
The fall in mature applications between 1997 and 1998 is attributable, at least in part, to demographic factors, the declining pool of potential mature applicants and the relative strength of the labour market. In addition, the surge in students admissions in 1997 meant that fewer prospective students were expected to apply in 1998.
Complete figures for applications for 1999 entry are not yet available.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of GCSE and A level examinations in Somali; [75740]
Mr. Mudie:
Somali has never been offered at either GCSE or A level. Hindi is currently offered at A level but not GCSE. Last year, at the Government's instigation, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority secured an agreement with the awarding bodies to ensure that small entry A level language examinations which are currently available should continue to be offered without interruption.
The Institute of Linguists offers Contemporary Language Certificates in Hindi and Somali which have been approved for use in schools.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the benefits to pupils' education of participation in the activities of education business partnerships. [75618]
12 Mar 1999 : Column: 433
Ms Estelle Morris:
Successive studies have demonstrated that education business partnerships make an important contribution to raising standards and to preparing young people for the world of work.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding disparities in salary levels between lecturers in the further education sector and teachers in the school sector. [75643]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The Department has received a number of letters about salaries of lecturers in sixth form colleges as compared with those of teachers in state schools. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently had a constructive meeting on a wide range of issues with the National Joint Council for Staff in Sixth Form Colleges.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of high levels of turnover in pupil enrolments on school performance. [75752]
Ms Estelle Morris
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: We are seeking further information about the nature and extent of pupil mobility, and its effect on school and pupil performance. That is why we are supporting a research project into pupil mobility, conducted by the Migration Research Unit at University College London. We expect preliminary results from the project to be available in July, and hope the outcomes will provide a focus for proper debate and discussion of the issue of mobility and school and pupil performance. We will keep the House informed of progress in this important area.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the education action zones have identified high levels of (a) turnover in pupil enrolments and (b) absenteeism as contributing to underperformance in their participating schools; and what initiatives they have put in place to address these problems. [75715]
Ms Estelle Morris:
It is likely that all 25 existing zones have problems with pupil attendance; and most of them contain at least some schools with high pupil mobility.
The zone action plans are due to be delivered to the Department at the end of this month. They will set out the initiatives that are to be put in place to address this problem.
Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many LEA education development plans have identified high levels of (a) absenteeism and (b) turnover in pupil enrolments, as factors affecting the performance of schools. [75716]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Local education authorities' final education development plans were submitted to the Department on 28 February 1999. These are currently being considered. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information becomes available and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.
12 Mar 1999 : Column: 434
Mr. Lock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list (i) the names of the beneficiaries of all the discretionary grants awarded by his Department to organisations within Worcestershire during 1998, (ii) their monetary value, (iii) their total value and (iv) the proportion that that total sum comprises of the total sums awarded by his Department in discretionary grants in 1998. [75254]
(2) if he will make a statement on the availability of GCSE and A level examinations in Hindi. [75781]
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Pershore and Hindlip College | 26,996 |
| Evesham College | 15,972 |
| Kidderminster College | 14,664 |
| North East Worcestershire College | 48,171 |
| Worcester College of Technology | 28,437 |
| Worcester Sixth Form College | 942 |
| Worcestershire Local Education Authority | 5,764,000 |
| Royal National Institute for the Blind New College Worcester | 25,000 |
| Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings | 12,400 |
| Malvern Girls College and Malvern Parish CE Primary School | 9,000 |
| Worcestershire County Council | 312,805 |
| Mencap Pathway | 21,102 |
| Redditch Borough Council | 9,990 |
| Areley Kings Playgroup | 1,000 |
| Broadwas Bumblebee Playgroup | 1,000 |
| Busy Bears Pre-School Playgroup | 1,000 |
| Busy Bees Pre-School Playgroup | 1,000 |
| Catshill Village Pre-School Playgroup | 1,000 |
| Cornmeadow Lane Playgroup | 960 |
| Droitwich Spa Pre-School Playgroup | 700 |
| Lower Broadheath Pre-School | 500 |
| Redditch YMCA Pre-School | 600 |
| Rowney Green Pre-School | 300 |
| Stoneyhill Pre-School Playgroup | 1,000 |
| Tan Lane Pre-School Nursery | 1,000 |
| Teddy Bears Club | 1,000 |
| Brockhampton Estate | 16,975 |
| SME Clean Technology grant | 40,000 |
| Ledbury Lower Link | 45,000 |
| Edwin Ralph multi-purpose village church | 29,250 |
| Witley Baroque Church | 141,000 |
| Total paid in discretionary grants | 6,572,764 |
Notes:
1. Grants paid under the terms of the European Social Fund to organisations in Worcester are not separately identifiable. Organisations in Hereford and Worcester received £535,692.
2. Grants for Travellers and displaced persons in Worcestershire under section 488 of the Education Act 1996 are not separately identifiable. Grants paid to a consortium of West Midlands Local Education Authorities, including Worcestershire, received £826,167.
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