| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
24 Mar 2003 : Column 37W—continued
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Level 2 and 3 Qualifications
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) level 2 and (b) level 3 qualifications were achieved in (i) schools and (ii) further education and sixth form colleges in the last year for which figures are available. [103985]
Mr. Miliband: The following table shows awards made at levels 2 and 3 during the 2000–01 academic year. It aggregates data from two sources: academic awards data from the secondary school and college performance tables database and vocational awards data from National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ) 1 . Awards coverage is limited to England only.
| Centre type | Level 2 | Percentage | Level 3 | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | 321,868 | 51 | 205,317 | 43 |
| FE College/ Tertiary College(13) | 160,104 | 25 | 147,000 | 31 |
| Sixth Form College | 4,978 | 1 | 60,437 | 13 |
| Other(14) | 141,660 | 23 | 63,711 | 13 |
| Total | 628,610 | — | 476,465 | — |
(12) NISVQ received information on around 92 per cent. of all NVQs/SVQs awarded in 2000–01.
(13) Includes Adult Education data.
(14) Institutes classified as "other" include: university or other higher education centre, private training provider, local government/central government/NHS, employer, HM prison/youth offenders institution and armed forces.
Source:
Secondary school and college performance tables database and NISVQ
Academic Staff Morale
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what recent representations he has received on the level of academic wages; [103932]
24 Mar 2003 : Column 38W
- (2) if he will make a statement on the report by the Association of University Teachers on the levels of morale and motivation among academic staff; and what steps he is taking to contract people to the academic profession. [103930]
Margaret Hodge: We have received several representations from individuals and representative bodies on a number of higher education matters, including academic pay. While pay levels are a matter for negotiation between employers and staff, the Government are concerned that higher education institutions should be able to recruit, retain and reward the high quality staff they need. That is why we announced in the recent White Paper that spending on higher education will rise from a total of £7.5 billion in 2002–03 to almost £10 billion in 2005–06. This includes £50 million in 2004–05 and £117 million in 2005–06 in addition to the total of £330 million for the three years up to 2003–04 specifically to help with the recruitment, retention and reward of all staff and, in particular, to value and reward good teachers. It also includes 'golden hellos' for 1,000 new lecturers in shortage subjects worth £9,000 over three years' service. We are also introducing a range of measures to raise the status of teaching in higher education. New professional standards will be agreed by 2004–05 and from 2006 all new teaching staff will be expected to have a teaching competence which meets the standards. Centres of Excellence in teaching will be established to reward good teaching at departmental level and to promote best practice, and the current National Teaching Fellowships Scheme will be increased in size to offer substantial rewards to twice as many outstanding teachers. The Government also support the proposed new teaching quality Academy being set up by the HE sector and considers that the Academy will play a major role in supporting and developing the profession of teaching.
Bullying
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to help reduce the incidence of bullying in schools. [103796]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We attach a high priority to helping schools prevent and combat bullying, and ensuring that the pupils report bullying when it happens. In 1999 we introduced a statutory requirement on schools to frame anti-bullying policies, in consultation with the school community. We supported that with a guidance pack for schools entitled 'Bullying: don't suffer in silence' with an accompanying video aimed at pupils, which was updated and relaunched in September 2002. We have developed a linked website at www.dfes.qov.uk/bullying, and funded the ChildLine programme of research into children and young people's views on bullying and how to tackle it.
I will set out our new plans for training and support for schools, and increased accountability, when the results of that research are launched on 25 March.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that schools have at least one member of staff qualified to deal with bullying in school. [103797]
24 Mar 2003 : Column 39W
Mr. Ivan Lewis: A school is required by law to have a written anti-bullying policy, which should be consistently implemented whenever bullying is reported. We have produced a guidance pack for schools to help them discharge this responsibility. Additional LEA support, guidance and training on behaviour and attendance issues, including bullying, will be available to all secondary schools from the autumn term. It is for schools to decide which individuals have the main responsibility for drawing up and managing the bullying policy, and for dealing with specific cases, and for ensuring that those concerned have the necessary knowledge and skills.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to help staff work with parents to tackle bullying (a) in school and (b) outside school hours. [103798]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Schools should work closely with parents in tackling bullying, both when updating the school's anti-bullying policy and when investigating specific complaints. This will enable parents to play their part, with school support, in tackling bullying outside school hours and outside school premises. Our anti-bullying pack 'Bullying: don't suffer in silence' offers practical advice on how schools should communicate both with the parents of victims and with the parents of alleged bullies. Additional support, guidance and training to be made available to all secondary schools from the autumn term will reinforce these messages.
Business Forms
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the forms that his Department requires private sector businesses to complete and return. [98086]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: This Department does not require private sector businesses to complete and return any forms. For the last full survey year, April 2001– March 2002, we carried out seven surveys involving private sector businesses. All these surveys were voluntary in nature. Of the seven surveys, six were telephone surveys and one involved face to face interviews.
Business Partnerships
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made by learning and skills councils of the number of further education colleges with business partnerships; what proportion of colleges this represents; and if he will make a statement. [104077]
Margaret Hodge: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) does not count the number of FE colleges with business partnerships. We are going to receive "employer engagement" as part of delivery contracts.
However, many FE colleges have already developed effective business partnerships, most recently through the creation of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), which are focused on meeting the skills needs of employers. Currently 137 FE colleges in England have a CoVE, including three CoVEs in the Bedfordshire & Luton LSC area. By March 2006 we will have created 400 CoVEs nationally.
24 Mar 2003 : Column 40W
From April local Strategic Area Reviews will be used in part to assess the links FE colleges have with employers and to ensure that the pattern of provision matches local skill needs.
From August, colleges will agree three year development plans with their local LSC. Funding for the sector will be allocated in return for each college meeting key headline targets, including targets for employer engagement. The targets will be specific to the mission and role each college will play in responding to local skill needs.
Child Care
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many (a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) out of school clubs there were in England on (i) 31 March 2002 and (ii) 31 March 2001; [101156]
- (2) when the Government will publish official statistics for the number of (a) day nurseries, (b) childminders and (c) out of school clubs in England on 31 March 2002. [101158]
Maria Eagle: The available information is shown in the table.
| Position at 31 March 2001 | Number |
|---|---|
| Day nurseries(16) | 7,800 |
| Registered childminders(16) | 72,300 |
| Out of school clubs(17) | 4,900 |
(15) Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
(16) Day nurseries and childminders provide care for children under eight years of age.
(17) Out of school clubs provide care for five to seven year old children.
The latest figures on Children's Day Care Facilities in England were published by the Department in the Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 2001" in October 2001, for the position at March 2001. Responsibility for the registration of day care facilities for children under eight was transferred from local authorities to OFSTED in September 2001. Figures for the position at March 2002 will not be available before OFSTED completes the compilation of its register of childcare providers, after March 2003.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate how much it would cost to extend childcare centres to cover 30 per cent. of the most disadvantaged communities. [101157]
Maria Eagle: The Government's long-term aim is that all children living in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards have access to children's centre services. By March 2006 we plan to reach at least 650,000 of these children—around two-thirds of those living in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards—and to create nearly 43,000 extra childcare places for them. We are investing some £435 million over the next three years to meet these targets. In many cases children's centres will be developed from existing provision, such as Sure Start local programmes and Neighbourhood Nurseries, building on their success.
24 Mar 2003 : Column 41W
We cannot currently estimate costs for extending reach beyond the planned 650,000 children until we have a better understanding of the different costs involved in establishing children's centres.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |