| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
University (Somerset)
Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish a university in Somerset; and if he will make a statement. [110764]
Mr. Wicks: The Government do not determine the siting of higher education institutions. It is a matter for the interested bodies in the region to consider with the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Schools (Urban Wards)
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of urban wards have (a) no school for six-year-olds, (b) no school for 12-year-olds and (c) no school for 18-year-olds. [110813]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The following table shows the percentage of urban wards in England that do not have maintained schools (or further education colleges) that cater for the specified age ranges.
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 143W
| Ward category (52) | No school for 6-year-olds | No school for 12-year-olds | No school for 18-year-olds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wholly urban(53) | 12 | 57 | 71 |
| Wholly or predominantly urban(54) | 11 | 57 | 72 |
| Wholly, predominantly or mixed urban(55) | 11 | 58 | 73 |
(52) Based on the 1991 population census.
(53) Every population census Enumeration District (ED) in the ward is defined as urban (based on where the majority of the population reside).
(54) Where 75 per cent. or more EDs in the ward are urban.
(55) Where 50 per cent. or more EDs in the ward are urban.
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 143W
There are almost 9,000 wards in England, compared with about 3,500 secondary schools and 18,000 primary schools.
School Meals
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority the percentage of schools in which hot meals are served; and if he will make a statement. [110703]
Jacqui Smith: This information is not collected centrally. Under current education legislation, it is up to local education authorities, and schools with delegated budgets for school meals, to decide on their presentation and content, including whether a meal should be hot. The minimum nutritional standards for school lunches, which will be phased in from September this year, will apply to both hot and cold lunches. We plan to offer guidance on when hot meals may be appropriate.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will assess the impact on schools and school children in Newcastle of the delegation of financial responsibility for paid school meals to schools combined with the removal of local education authority subsidy for such meals. [112133]
Ms Estelle Morris:
We shall be keeping all new areas of delegation within the new Fair Funding framework under review, including school meals. With the new nutritional standards for school meals to underpin delegation, the transfer of responsibility for school meals to governing bodies opens up new opportunities for schools to provide what their pupils need.
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 144W
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average cost of a place in a maintained secondary school in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [109547]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The average cost of a place in a maintained secondary school in England based on 1999-2000 Local School Budget figures was £3,672. The Local Schools Budget relates to the new "fair funding" arrangements introduced in April 1999 and is not comparable with the General Schools Budget under the previous arrangements.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the courses eligible for the disabled student allowance; and what plans he has to increase the number of courses. [108137]
Mr. Wicks:
To be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowances, a student should be studying full-time on a designated course as defined in the Education (Student Support) Regulations 1999. The list is as follows:
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 145W
From September 2000, part-time students studying at least 50 per cent. of an equivalent full-time designated course will also be eligible for Disabled Students Allowances.
Some students in receipt of NHS bursaries are also eligible for Disabled Students Allowances. NHS funded student support is a matter for the NHS Executive and the Department of Health.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent representations he has received regarding class sizes in primary schools; [111380]
Ms Estelle Morris:
My Department receives representations from time to time about primary class sizes. The average size of primary classes went down from 27.7 in January 1998 to 27.4 in January 1999--the first fall in ten years.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number of (a) part-time and full-time pupils in nursery schools, (b) pupils in each year in LEA and LEA supported schools, excluding nursery schools and (c) pupils in each year in private schools in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in each year from 1995 to 2000. [111050]
Ms Estelle Morris
[holding answer 22 February 2000]: The January 2000 Annual Schools Census (Form 7) is currently being undertaken and provisional national estimates will be available in April.
Information about pupils is collected in the Annual Schools Census (Form 7) by age not by year group.
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 146W
Tables give the figures by the age of the pupils at the beginning of each school year and have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he will issue for the measurement of pupil progress where teachers do not teach key stage test classes or external examination classes. [110996]
Ms Estelle Morris
[holding answer 21 February 2000]: The performance threshold materials we will be publishing in March will contain guidance notes to help teachers complete their applications to demonstrate that they meet the threshold standards. Draft guidance notes were published for consultation on 9 February. Under the "Pupil progress" standard the draft states that where external test data is not available teachers should use data internal to the school to show progress. This could include examination marks, general coursework marks or grades achieved. Where possible teachers should use these to quantify progress in terms of the levels used within the national curriculum.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to recognise the team element of raising standards in schools under the proposed performance-related pay scheme. [111000]
Ms Estelle Morris
[holding answer 21 February 2000]: Part of the 'professional characteristics' aspect of the proposed performance threshold standards will be an evaluation of the way teachers build a team commitment with their colleagues. Teachers and their team leaders may also want to identify objectives relating to team building as part of the process of annual performance review.
We are also introducing an annual performance awards scheme for schools which will provide recognition of high performing teamwork within institutions. An overall budget of £60 million per year will be available to reward between a quarter and a third of excellent and improving schools through allocation to these schools to fund one-off non-consolidated pay bonuses for their staff. The first payments will be made in 2001 on the basis of results from summer 2000.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment under what circumstances teachers on Point 9 of the teachers' salary scale who win PLATO awards (a) cross the performance pay threshold and (b) become advanced skills teachers. [111044]
Ms Estelle Morris
[holding answer 21 February 2000]: PLATO awards or teaching awards are organised by the Teaching Awards Trust, sponsored by a Lloyds/TSB venture supported by the Department for Education and Employment. Award winners wishing to apply to cross the performance threshold or wishing to apply to become Advanced Skills Teachers will be required to follow the appropriate application procedures and be assessed in the same manner as other teachers.
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 147W
1. A first degree other than a course referred to at paragraph 4.
2. A course for the Diploma of Higher Education.
3. A course for the Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate of:
(a) the Business and Technician Education Council; or
(b) the Scottish Qualification Authority.
4. A course for the initial training of teachers, including such a course leading to a first degree.
5. A course for the further training of teachers or youth and community workers.
6. A course in preparation for a professional examination of a standard higher than that of:
(a) examinations at advanced level for the General Certificate of Education or the examination at higher level for the Scottish Certificate of Education; or
(b) the examination for the National Certificate or the National Diploma of either the bodies mentioned in paragraph 3 not being a course for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is normally required.
7. A course providing education (whether or not in preparation for an examination) the standard of which is:
(a) higher than that of courses providing education in preparation for any of the examinations mentioned in paragraph (6)(a) or (b); but
(b) not higher than that of a first degree course, and for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is not normally required.
(2) if he will make a statement on average class sizes in primary schools. [111407]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |