House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Nov 2002 (pt 10)

5 Nov 2002 : Column 186W—continued

Cognitive Ability Tests

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will list the secondary schools in West Sussex which conduct cognitive ability tests in year 7;[79434]

Mr. Miliband : Cognitive ability tests for year 7 are commercial tests produced by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) Nelson which schools can purchase if they wish. As such the department has no records of their usage on an individual school, local education authority or national basis.

Departmental Circulars

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the circular documents that were sent by his Department to (a) primary schools, (b) city technology colleges, (c) other secondary schools and (d) special schools between (i) 1 September and 30 September and (ii) 1 September 2001 and 31 August 2002. [76779]

Mr. Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Departmental Job Vacancies

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (ii) the south east between 1 April 2001 and 31 March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade. [76565]

5 Nov 2002 : Column 187W

Mr. Stephen Twigg [holding answer 28 October 2002]: Information on vacancies in London and the south east region between 9 June 2001 (when this Department was established) and 31 March 2002, and numbers of DfES staff in London and the south east region at 1 April 2002, is set out in the table:

Responsibility level London region vacancies⁽⁶⁾ London region total staff⁽⁷⁾ SE region vacancies⁽⁶⁾ SE region total staff⁽⁷⁾

Grade 6 and above 10 127 0 3

Grade 7 10 286 3 12

Senior Executive Officer 15 217 2 8

Higher Executive Officer 43 570 2 31

Executive Officer 147 500 2 19

Administrative Officer 64 322 0 4

Administrative Assistant 0 76 0 0

Total non industrial staff 289 2,098 9 77

Responsibility level	London region vacancies⁽⁶⁾	London region total staff⁽⁷⁾	SE region vacancies⁽⁶⁾	SE region total staff⁽⁷⁾
Grade 6 and above	10	127	0	3
Grade 7	10	286	3	12
Senior Executive Officer	15	217	2	8
Higher Executive Officer	43	570	2	31
Executive Officer	147	500	2	19
Administrative Officer	64	322	0	4
Administrative Assistant	0	76	0	0
Total non industrial staff	289	2,098	9	77

⁽⁶⁾ 9 June 2001 to 31 March 2002.

⁽⁷⁾ 1 April 2002.

Education Funding

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will calculate (a) the amount spent per pupil on primary and secondary education by Cheshire county council and (b) average amount spent per pupil on primary and secondary education by local authorities in England in the last financial year for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the effect of the comparison of the resultant figures on educational provision in Cheshire; and if he will make a statement. [79275]

Mr. Miliband: The requested information is as follows:

(a) Net current expenditure per pupil in Cheshire

#

Primary 2,310

Secondary 2,920

Both 2,580

(b) Net current expenditure per pupil in England

#

Primary 2,440

Secondary 3,060

Both 2,710

	#
Primary	2,310
Secondary	2,920
Both	2,580

	#
Primary	2,440
Secondary	3,060
Both	2,710

5 Nov 2002 : Column 188W

All figures in cash terms and rounded to the nearest 10.

The data have been taken from Cheshire education authority's section 52 Outturn statement for the 2000–01 financial year. Variations in spending per pupil between authorities reflect higher area costs and greater incidence of deprivation in some areas. The Government will be announcing later this year the outcome of its review of formula funding for local authorities.

English as an Additional Language

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to schools on teaching English as an additional language. [77802]

Mr. Stephen Twigg [holding answer 30 October 2002]: The general consensus among practitioners in England is that the teaching of English as an additional language (EAL) is most effective where it is firmly embedded in classroom practice across all national curriculum subject areas. This ensures that pupils have the opportunity to learn English in a meaningful subject specific context. That approach is reflected in the guidance issued by the Department on teaching EAL as part of the national strategies on literacy, numeracy and Key Stage 3. Many schools use the resources provided through the Department's #154 million Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) programme to provide additional tailored support for bilingual learners.

Full-time Students

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) pupils achieved five GCSEs or more grades A*-C and (b) 17 year olds were in full-time education in each region in each year since 1995. [78555]

Mr. Miliband: The information requested is shown in the tables.

(a) Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C or GNVQ equivalent in maintained schools in England, 1995–2001

Region 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

North East 36.1 36.3 36.8 37.1 39.4 41.7 42.5

North West 38.9 41.0 41.5 42.2 44.2 45.7 46.1

Yorkshire and the Humber 36.3 37.1 37.9 38.7 40.5 42.1 43.0

East Midlands 39.6 40.7 41.5 43.0 45.3 46.0 47.5

West Midlands 37.7 39.3 40.2 41.3 43.5 44.8 45.8

East of England 44.4 45.0 45.8 48.4 49.9 50.7 51.8

London 36.8 39.0 40.4 42.1 43.6 45.0 46.1

South East 45.4 47.0 47.7 49.2 51.2 52.1 52.8

South West 45.7 46.6 47.1 48.6 50.2 51.3 52.2

England (all schools including independent schools) 43.5 44.5 45.1 46.3 47.9 49.2 50.0

Region	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
North East	36.1	36.3	36.8	37.1	39.4	41.7	42.5
North West	38.9	41.0	41.5	42.2	44.2	45.7	46.1
Yorkshire and the Humber	36.3	37.1	37.9	38.7	40.5	42.1	43.0
East Midlands	39.6	40.7	41.5	43.0	45.3	46.0	47.5
West Midlands	37.7	39.3	40.2	41.3	43.5	44.8	45.8
East of England	44.4	45.0	45.8	48.4	49.9	50.7	51.8
London	36.8	39.0	40.4	42.1	43.6	45.0	46.1
South East	45.4	47.0	47.7	49.2	51.2	52.1	52.8
South West	45.7	46.6	47.1	48.6	50.2	51.3	52.2
England (all schools including independent schools)	43.5	44.5	45.1	46.3	47.9	49.2	50.0

Participation estimates are produced using the academic age of the student (age as at 31 August). Therefore, the estimates for both 16-year-olds (the first post-compulsory year) and 17-years-olds are included. The figures are taken from the latest Statistical Bulletin, XParticipation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England".

5 Nov 2002 : Column 189W

(b.i) Participation in full-time education by 16-year-olds in each GO region, 1995 to 1999

Region end 1995 end 1996 end 1997 end 1998 end 1999

North East 62 62 60 61 64

North West 66 65 65 65 67

Yorkshire and the Humber 65 64 65 64 66

East Midlands 67 67 67 67 69

West Midlands 67 67 66 68 69

East of England 75 75 73 74 75

London 75 74 75 74 75

South East 76 75 75 74 75

South West 74 75 73 73 74

England 70 70 70 70 71

Region	end 1995	end 1996	end 1997	end 1998	end 1999
North East	62	62	60	61	64
North West	66	65	65	65	67
Yorkshire and the Humber	65	64	65	64	66
East Midlands	67	67	67	67	69
West Midlands	67	67	66	68	69
East of England	75	75	73	74	75
London	75	74	75	74	75
South East	76	75	75	74	75
South West	74	75	73	73	74
England	70	70	70	70	71

Note:

Includes 16-year-olds participating in full-time education in schools, sixth-form colleges and other FE.Source:DfES

(b.ii) Participation in full-time education by 17-year-olds in each GO region, 1995 to 1999

Region end 1995 end 1996 end 1997 end 1998 end 1999

North East 49 50 49 49 50

North West 54 54 53 53 54

Yorkshire and the Humber 52 53 51 51 52

East Midlands 55 55 55 55 56

West Midlands 56 55 55 55 56

East of England 61 61 60 60 62

London 61 61 61 61 62

South East 62 62 60 62 62

South West 61 61 61 60 61

England 58 57 57 57 58

Region	end 1995	end 1996	end 1997	end 1998	end 1999
North East	49	50	49	49	50
North West	54	54	53	53	54
Yorkshire and the Humber	52	53	51	51	52
East Midlands	55	55	55	55	56
West Midlands	56	55	55	55	56
East of England	61	61	60	60	62
London	61	61	61	61	62
South East	62	62	60	62	62
South West	61	61	61	60	61
England	58	57	57	57	58

Note:

Includes 17-year-olds participating in full-time education in schools, sixth-form colleges and other FE.Source:DfES

Individual Learning Accounts

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will make a statement on the successor scheme to individual learning accounts. [79452]

Mr. Ivan Lewis : In June 2003 following the completion of our review of adult learning and as an integral part of our groundbreaking National Skills Strategy and delivery plan.

LEA Directors

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he gives to directors of local education authorities about the use of their powers to call informal meetings of school governing bodies. [78770]

Mr. Miliband: Directors of local education authorities have no powers to call meetings of school governing bodies, but may invite governors, either individually or collectively, to meet them. Paragraphs 24 to 32 of the Code of Practice on Local Education Authority-School Relations (issued in February 2001) give authorities guidance on their role in monitoring and supporting schools causing concern.

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