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Departmental Funding Resources and Initiatives
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list all (a) funding resources and (b) initiatives sponsored by her Department for (i) the private sector, (ii) the voluntary sector and (iii) local authorities. [26847]
Estelle Morris: Most of my Department's expenditure is delivered through schools and local education authorities (LEAs), and partner organisations, including non-departmental public bodies, which in turn pass funding to providers and institutions in the private, voluntary and other sectors.
The bulk of funding for local authorities is made up of the Education Standard Spending Assessment, £22.5 billion in the current financial year, the Standards Fund, £2.5 billion, and credit approvals of £0.5 billion. The Department also makes some separate grants available to local authorities, for example for Education Maintenance Allowances.
The Department has allocated £450 million in private finance initiative credits to local authorities in 2001–02 to support public-private partnerships in schools.
Full details of the initiatives sponsored by my Department for the private sector, the voluntary sector and local authorities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department is currently contributing a comprehensive Home Office-led exercise, which is mapping involvement and funding in the voluntary and community sector. I expect my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to place this information in the Library when the exercise is completed.
School Funding
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for each of the years (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 the average level of funding for (i) each secondary pupil in England and (ii) pupils attending specialist schools. [28963]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 21 January 2002]: The table provides the information requested at part (i):
| Year | SSA | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 3,180 | 230 | 3,410 |
| 2001–02 | 3,310 | 380 | 3,690 |
Notes:
1. Figures reflect Education SSA (secondary sub-block) plus an estimate of all school related revenue grants in DfES's DEL relevant to secondary pupils (aged 11–15).
2. Secondary school grant figures are estimated in cases where grants are allocated for more than one phase of education.
3. Secondary schools grant figures include the specialist school element of the Standards Fund.
4. Figures are in cash terms.
5. 2001–02 figures are provisional as some grant allocations have still to be finalised.
6. Figures rounded to nearest £10.
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In response to part (ii) of the question, specialist schools receive additional annual funding calculated from pupil numbers taken from the annual school census returns each year. In 2000–01 schools received £122 per pupil for all pupils up to 1,000 and over 1,200 pupils. In 2001–02 schools will receive £123 per pupil for all pupils up to 1,000 and over 1,200 pupils.
Specialist Schools
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advance notice is required by her Department for associated applications for specialist school status for the (a) March 2002 and (b) October 2002 bidding rounds; and if she will make a statement. [29195]
Mr. Timms: There is no specific notice requirement for associated applications for specialist school designation. However, as stated in the guidance documents setting out the assessment criteria for applicant schools, DfES is willing to consider outline proposals from schools interested in submitting associated applications in advance of the closing date of a specialist school competition. Associated application arrangements will typically involve a group of secondary schools as part of a strategic approach to specialist school provision in an area. In due course each application will be judged on its individual merits. To give schools interested in making associated applications an advance indication of the likely view to be taken on the proposals as a whole we would encourage them to show their outline proposals to DfES at least six months before the closing date in which the first associated application will be submitted.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the value of sponsorship by the private sector for specialist schools to date which has been available (a) in cash and (b) in kind; and if she will make a statement. [29196]
Mr. Timms: The aggregate contribution of private sector sponsorship to specialist schools to date is at least £58 million. Most applications will have elements of cash sponsorship and sponsorship in kind though the split varies greatly from school to school. The breakdown of cash and in kind sponsorship for each specialist school is on each school's file and not collated centrally. It is therefore not possible to give estimates of the cash and kind amounts except at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications for specialist school status have been rejected on the basis that the school in question has performance indicators which show a declining trend of performance; and if she will make a statement. [29202]
Mr. Timms: We do not maintain figures on the number of schools where a declining trend in performance has been a factor in a school's application being unsuccessful. GCSE performance is one of a range of factors taken into account as part of an applicant's specialist school
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development plan but has never been the sole factor in deciding not to approve an application for specialist school designation.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the level of investment in specialist schools for each year from May 1997 to 2005, broken down by (a) extra capital funding and (b) extra current expenditure; and if she will make a statement. [29204]
Mr. Timms: The level of investment in specialist schools broken down by (a) capital and (b) extra recurrent expenditure from 1996–97 to 2003–04 is provided in the table. Any future and additional funding will be considered as part of the 2002 Spending Review.
| Financial year | Capital | Recurrent | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 7.0 | 16.0 | 23.0 |
| 1997–98 | 7.7 | 25.4 | 33.1 |
| 1998–99 | 8.0 | 32.8 | 40.8 |
| 1999–2000 | 4.5 | 42.9 | 47.4 |
| 2000–01 | 13.2 | 58.7 | 71.9 |
| 2001–02 | 15.4 | 78.6 | 94.0 |
| 2002–03 | 16.6 | 91.4 | 108.0 |
| 2003–04 | 16.8 | 110.2 | 127.0 |
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist schools have increased the curriculum hours devoted to their chosen specialism, following award of specialist status; and if she will make a statement. [29209]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the specialist schools in (a) Somerset and (b) Dorset, giving the specialism in each case. [29210]
Mr. Timms: A list of specialist schools by specialism in (a) Somerset and (b) Dorset is given below:
- Specialist schools in Somerset
- Bucklers Mead Community School—Technology
- Court Fields Community School—Technology
- Crispin School—Technology
- Heathfield Community School—Arts
- Kings of Wessex Community School (The)—Technology
- Kingsmead Community School—Language
- Ladymead Community School—Technology
- Whitstone Community School—Technology
- Specialist schools in Dorset
- Lytchett Minister School—Arts
- Highcliffe Comprehensive School—Language
- Sir John Colfox School—Language
- Shaftesbury School—Sports
- Beaminster School—Technology
- Budmouth Technology College—Technology
- Twynham School—Technology
- Westfield School—Technology.
23 Jan 2002 : Column 903W
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures of deprivation are considered when considering applications for specialist school status; and if she will make a statement. [29211]
Mr. Timms: In accordance with the guidance documents which set out the criteria for the consideration of specialist school applications, some preference may be given to applications from areas of social deprivation as measured by pupils' known eligibility for free school meals.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the latest research showing the effects of specialist school status on school performance; and if she will make a statement. [29212]
Mr. Timms: The latest research commissioned by the Department was published in 2000. An analysis of the performance in 2001 of specialist schools operational from September 2000 or before will shortly be prepared by Professor David Jesson on behalf of the Technology Colleges Trust and I expect this analysis to be published in the spring.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the nature of the links which she requires between primary feeder schools and secondary schools which are successful in becoming specialist schools. [29214]
Mr. Timms: The requirements for specialist school community development plans are set out in the published guidance documents on each specialism. Applications for specialist school designation must include proposals to work with at least five named schools, which will typically include one or more of the applicant's feeder primary schools. Although there are no specific requirements covering the nature of work which specialist schools undertake with their primary partners we would normally expect such links to range from, for example, the provision of access to specialist resources and facilities to joint teaching and learning activities, including specialist subject INSET, or project work to help progression between Key Stages 2 and 3.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the criteria considered by her Department when assessing bids for specialist school status. [29215]
Mr. Timms: The criteria against which applications for specialist school designation are assessed are published in eight guidance documents each dealing with one of the eight categories of specialism. These set out the considerations taken into account when deciding to designate specialist schools and are based around the eligibility of sponsorship and the quality of the school and community development plans. Copies of guidance documents have been place in the Library.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the local education authorities which have 30 per cent. or more of their pupils in specialist schools; if she will make a statement on the reasons for which further schools in such LEAs will not be considered for specialist school bids; and if she will indicate for how long the ban on further bids in such areas will last. [29216]
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Mr. Timms: The local authorities which have 30 per cent. of their secondary age pupils in specialist maintained secondary schools are listed in the table.
| LEA | Pupils aged 11+ in specialist maintained secondary schools | Pupils aged 11+ in all maintained secondary schools | Percentage of pupils aged 11+ in specialist maintained secondary schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wandsworth | 6,395 | 9,944 | 64.3 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 10,138 | 16,318 | 62.1 |
| West Berkshire | 7,033 | 11,740 | 59.9 |
| Gateshead | 7,025 | 12,043 | 58.3 |
| Hackney | 4,411 | 7,921 | 55.7 |
| York | 4,929 | 9,972 | 49.4 |
| Darlington | 2,953 | 6,009 | 49.1 |
| North Somerset | 5,891 | 12,268 | 48.0 |
| Cornwall | 13,685 | 32,000 | 42.8 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 5,218 | 12,270 | 42.5 |
| Camden | 4,544 | 10,868 | 41.8 |
| Greenwich | 5,767 | 13,834 | 41.7 |
| Ealing | 6,163 | 15,088 | 40.8 |
| Durham | 13,116 | 32,158 | 40.8 |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 5,070 | 12,792 | 39.6 |
| Bournemouth | 3,800 | 9,768 | 38.9 |
| Newham | 6,667 | 17,469 | 38.2 |
| Milton Keynes | 4,465 | 12,058 | 37.0 |
| Wigan | 7,716 | 20,854 | 37.0 |
| Birmingham | 25,401 | 69,037 | 36.8 |
| Bradford | 12,539 | 34,214 | 36.6 |
| Hartlepool | 2,409 | 6,679 | 36.1 |
| Plymouth | 6,786 | 18,823 | 36.1 |
| Gloucestershire | 13,718 | 38,146 | 36.0 |
| Northumberland | 8,075 | 22,855 | 35.3 |
| Manchester | 8,227 | 23,472 | 35.1 |
| Rutland | 789 | 2,254 | 35.0 |
| Wiltshire | 9,570 | 27,383 | 34.9 |
| Cambridgeshire | 10,625 | 30,916 | 34.4 |
| St. Helens | 4,167 | 12,159 | 34.3 |
| Northamptonshire | 14,932 | 44,161 | 33.8 |
| Barking and Dagenham | 3,709 | 11,079 | 33.5 |
| Redbridge | 6,301 | 18,868 | 33.4 |
| Lambeth | 2,398 | 7.208 | 33.3 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 7,333 | 22,627 | 32.4 |
| Rochdale | 4,583 | 14,153 | 32.4 |
| Lincolnshire | 14,210 | 44,166 | 32.2 |
| Sheffield | 9,596 | 29,861 | 32.1 |
| Wakefield | 6,758 | 21,279 | 31.8 |
| Trafford | 5,000 | 15,844 | 31.6 |
| East Sussex | 8,686 | 27,805 | 31.2 |
| Knowlsey | 3,160 | 10,240 | 30.9 |
| Norfolk | 13,712 | 44,896 | 30.5 |
| Warrington | 4,192 | 13,833 | 30.3 |
| Leicester | 5,436 | 18,031 | 30.1 |
| Leicestershire | 13,014 | 43,184 | 30.1 |
Source:
Annual Schools' Census
The restriction which applied to the application process for October 2000 and March 2001 specialist school competitions on allowing further applications from schools in local education authorities where there was already 30 per cent. of secondary aged pupils in mainstream specialist schools was lifted in July 2001.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets she has set for the number of successful bidders for specialist school status in the (a) March 2002 and (b) October 2002 bidding rounds in terms of (i) overall numbers, (ii) breakdown by specialisms, (iii) geographical spread, (iv) deprivation characteristics of the catchment areas and (v) joint bids; and if she will make a statement. [29217]
23 Jan 2002 : Column 905W
Mr. Timms: We have not set targets for the number of specialist schools beyond those already published—at least 830 by September 2002, at least 1,000 by September 2003 and at least 1,500 by September 2005. Apart from a target of 200 sports colleges by September 2004 in connection with the school sport co-ordinator programme, we have not set targets for the number of successful applications in relation to specialisms, geographic spread, deprivation characteristics of catchment areas or joint applications.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has carried out into the difficulties faced by schools in deprived areas in raising the private sector funds needed to apply for specialist status; what plans she has to reduce the £50,000 threshold; and if she will make a statement. [29220]
Mr. Timms: The Department has not carried out research on the ability of schools to raise sponsorship but we do keep specialist school sponsorship requirements under regular review. We have no plans to abolish the requirement for schools to raise sponsorship to support a specialist school application or to reduce the level of sponsorship required.
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