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Special Needs Teacher Training

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many hours of training PGCE students receive in the teaching of children with special needs. [139296]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 20 November 2000]: This information is not collected centrally. However, since 1998 in order to secure qualified teacher status (QTS), students must be able to demonstrate that they can identify pupils with special educational needs, know where to go to get help in order to give positive and targeted support and are familiar with the requirements of the Code of Practice on identification and assessment of SEN, including requirements with regard to the keeping of pupils' records.

SEN Statements

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average time over the last

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12 months has been for a child with special educational needs to be statemented from the initiation of the process to the statement being issued. [139297]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 20 November 2000]: The Audit Commission collects information on the production of statements. It is encouraging to note that the Audit Commission's figures show an improvement, with English councils overall preparing 67 per cent. of draft statements within 18 weeks in 1998-99, compared to 54 per cent. in 1997-98 and 48 per cent. in 1996-97.

A-levels (Teachers)

Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average A-level points score was of graduates entering the teaching profession in each year since 1990. [139499]

Ms Estelle Morris: Data for A-level point scores for graduates entering the teaching profession are not collected centrally.

Figures based on available A-level point scores data for entrants to initial teacher training (ITT) leading to a BEd with qualified teacher status in England are shown in the table.

Academic year of entry	Average A-level point score
1997-98	14.4
1998-99	15.4

Notes:

1. Candidates with more than three A-levels are scored for the best three; all candidates with three or fewer A-levels are scored and counted. AS-levels are scored as half an A-level.

2. Figures for earlier years are not available.

Source:

Teacher Training Agency--data collected for the Initial Teacher Training Performance Profiles.

The following table presents figures based on A-level point scores data available for applicants accepted onto degrees leading mainly to a BEd with qualified teacher status. The figure for applicants in academic year 2000-01 is not yet available.

Applicants accepted for entry in academic year	Average A-level point score
1994-95	13.9
1995-96	14.1
1996-97	14.5
1997-98	14.8
1998-99	15.2
1999-2000	15.2

Notes:

1. For 1994-95, entry figures include physical education courses not leading to a BEd with qualified teacher status.

2. For 1995-96, entry figures include Sports Science and Leisure and Recreation courses not leading to a BEd with qualified teacher status.

3. For 1995-96 onwards, figures include combined courses of education with another subject not necessarily leading to a first degree with qualified teacher status.

4. Candidates with more than three A-levels are scored for the best three; candidates with two or more A-levels are scored; candidates with fewer than two A-levels are excluded. AS-levels are scored as half an A-level.

5. Figures for earlier years are not available.

Source:

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, covering degrees offered through UCAS in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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Reliable data for A-level point scores for postgraduate trainees are not collected centrally. Recruitment to postgraduate ITT courses in England has risen for 2000-01 as compared to 1999-2000, according to figures from the TTA survey of ITT providers. Total postgraduate recruitment for 1999-2000, according to figures from the TTA survey of ITT providers. Total postgraduate recruitment for 1999-2000 was 17,461; for 2000-01, the provisional figure is 19,544. The following table presents the proportion of successful PGCE ITT completers in England and Wales who were awarded a second class honours or more for their first degree for calendar years 1990 to 1999:

Year	Percentage awarded 2:2 or higher for 1st degree
1990	82.3
1991	83.0
1992	83.6
1993	85.2
1994	86.8
1995	87.5
1996	87.5
1997	90.1
1998	90.3
1999	91.1

Notes:

1. The figures exclude those for whom no class of degree is shown in the teachers' record system. These are mainly holders of acceptable graduate equivalent qualifications or non-UK degrees.

2. The figures exclude Open University and School Centred Initial Teacher Training.

Source:

Analytical Services Database of Teacher Records, DfEE.

Children's Services

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what services are available offering counselling, advice and protection to children in schools; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of such services. [139658]

Jacqui Smith: The Government are substantially increasing the resources available to schools to offer personal support to children. Learning Mentors have already been introduced in nearly 500 city secondary schools through our Excellence in Cities initiative. As the initiative is extended in the next school year, we are enabling city secondary schools to employ 1,500 Learning Mentors in a total of 1,000 secondary schools. That will mean that one third of all secondary school pupils will be

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covered by the programme. Learning Mentors help young people overcome barriers to learning, both inside and outside school.

The new Connexions service will operate from April next year. It is a major new advice, guidance and support service for young people aged 13-19. Its aim is to connect and reconnect young people with learning, and help them to make a successful transition to adult life.

The Children's Fund, announced last week and worth £450 million over three years, will lead the Government's policy on preventing poverty and disadvantage for children and young people. The majority of the Fund will be targeted on preventive work with children (primarily in the 5 to 13 age group) and their families, helping them before they hit crisis. £70 million of the Fund will be distributed directly to local communities through a network of local funds administered by the voluntary sector itself.

The Government take child protection seriously and have made recommendations to local education authorities and schools about protecting children from abuse. These include that all schools should have a child protection policy; that schools should have a designated member of staff responsible for co-ordinating action within the school and liaising with other agencies; and procedures to be followed if a member of staff is accused of abuse.

Schools are also encouraged to support the emotional health and well-being of children through the National Health School Standard.

School Records

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what right of access parents have to school records concerning their child. [139761]

Jacqui Smith: Parents of children in maintained schools are entitled to see their child's educational record, free of charge, within 15 school days of making a written request. They are similarly entitled to receive a copy at no greater cost than that of supplying it. In both cases, the Data Protection Act 1998 prevents disclosure of some material--for example, that which would be likely to cause serious harm to the physical or mental health or emotional condition of the pupil or someone else.

Ofsted Inspectors

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of Ofsted school inspections were carried out by inspectors from the local area in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [139769]

(2) what percentage of Ofsted inspectors are (a) serving teachers and (b) teachers who retired within the last five years. [139772]

Ms Estelle Morris: These are matters for HM Chief Inspector of Schools in England, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to the right hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

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Correspondence

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to letters to him dated 7 September and 26 June on behalf of Reverend Christopher Harrison, Chairman of the Governors of Fitzherbert Primary School in Fenny Bentley, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. [140169]

Ms Estelle Morris: I have now replied to the hon. Member on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I regret the delay that has occurred in this case.

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