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18 Jun 2003 : Column 314W—continued
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the relationship between the Government and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; what plans he has to change it; and if he will make a statement. [118104]
Mr. Miliband: The Government work closely with QCA. My right hon. Friend and I meet Sir Anthony Greener and Dr. Ken Boston, the Chair and Chief Executive of QCA, regularly on a wide range of issues. Regular meetings also take place between officials. I am satisfied that the arrangements in place secure the right framework of accountability while ensuring that the QCA is properly independent in its setting of examination and testing standards.
A Memorandum of Understanding which describes the relationship between the Department and QCA has been agreed and made available on the QCA website. I am placing a copy in the Library. We will continue to keep the relationship under review.
Rural Affairs
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken in urban-based schools (a) lessons and (b) activities to encourage greater awareness of (i) rural and (ii) countryside issues. [119151]
Mr. Miliband: Growing Schools, launched in September 2001, seeks to tackle concerns that young people have become distanced from the natural environment and know little about food, farming, agriculture or the countryside. We are working with a number of partners to encourage schools to use the 'outdoor classroom' as a resource across the curriculum. We want all pupils, in both rural and urban communities to have opportunities to gain knowledge and understanding of rural and countryside issues through first hand experience.
18 Jun 2003 : Column 315W
Rural Schools
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many rural small schools have closed in England in each year since 1997. [119343]
Mr. Miliband: The Department does not have reliable data on the number of rural school closures for individual years before 1998. Following the introduction of the presumption against closure in 1998, the number of rural small schools approved for closure is as follows:
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
The Department defines a small primary school as one with fewer than 200 pupils and a small secondary school as one with fewer than 600 pupils.
18 Jun 2003 : Column 316W
School League Tables
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost was of producing and publishing the most recent (a) primary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 2 tests, (b) secondary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 3 tests, (c) secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications, (d) school and college performance tables of achievements in A/AS examinations and vocational qualifications, (e) pilot tables testing the calculation and presentation of a Key Stage 2-GCSE/GNVQ value added measure and (f) pilot tables testing the reporting of achievements in all approved qualifications at age 16. [117849]
Mr. Miliband: The cost of producing the most recent (2002) school and college performance data is as follows:
| Data | Cost |
|---|---|
| (a) Primary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 2 tests | 0.9 |
| (b) Secondary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 3 tests | n/a |
| (c) Secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications | 1.98 |
| (d) School and college performance tables of achievements in A/AS examinations and vocational qualifications | n/a |
| (e) Pilot tables testing the calculation and presentation of a Key Stage 2-GCSE/GNVQ value added measure | 0.15 |
| (f) Tables testing the reporting of achievements in all approved qualifications at age 16 | n/a |
Notes:
1. The figures shown above are programme costs and do not include departmental staff costs.
2. The secondary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 3 tests were published alongside the secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications.
3. The secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications and the school and college performance tables of achievements in A/AS examinations and vocational qualifications are managed as one exercise so there are no separate costings.
4. The tables testing the reporting of achievements in all approved qualifications at age 16 will be piloted in 2003.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of producing school and college performance tables was in 2003, including (a) data collection and analysis, (b) production, (c) publication and (d) distribution. [117874]
Mr. Miliband [holding answer 9 June 2003]: The breakdown of the cost of producing the most recent (2002) school and college performance data is as follows:
| Data | Cost |
|---|---|
| Data collection and analysis | 0.8 |
| Production | (20)2.05 |
| Publication | 0.09 |
| Distribution | 0.09 |
(20) This figure was higher in 2002 because of the need to carry out additional confirmations of results.
Notes:
1. The figures shown above are programme costs and do not include departmental staff costs.
2. The data for the primary tables were checked and compiled by the Department then published by LEAs on 5 December 2002. The Department makes the data available on their website but hard copies of the booklets are available from individual LEAs.
3. The Department published the 2002 secondary school performance tables on 23 January 2003 and the 2002 post 16 tables on 3 April 2003. Distribution costs have been radically reduced since 2001 with the introduction of print on demand. We no longer print and distribute bulk copies but still ensure all schools and local libraries receive one copy of the tables for information purposes.
School Funding (Essex)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many schools in Essex are running a deficit budget; [118751]
- (2) if he will list the schools in Castle Point that are running a deficit budget, and the size of the deficit in each case. [118752]
Mr. Miliband: The latest outturn statement published by Essex Local Education Authority shows that 21 schools ended the financial year 2001–02 with a deficit balance. Of these, two schools were in the Castle Point constituency: Leigh Beck Infant School and Nursery (-£6,915) and The Cornelius Vermuyden School (-£1,633).
18 Jun 2003 : Column 317W
Figures for the year ending 31 March 2003 are due to be published by authorities by 9 October 2003.
School Governors
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was paid in attendance allowances to members of school governing bodies in England and Wales in each of the last 10 municipal years; and how much he estimates will be allocated in the current municipal year. [118746]
Mr. Miliband: Although Governing Bodies have the power to set up schemes to pay governors for any expenditure necessarily incurred to enable them to carry out their governor duties, there is no provision to pay attendance allowances.
School Workforce Agreement
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the projected cost of implementing the National Agreement on Restructuring the School Workforce is. [117639]
Mr. Miliband: The costs will vary from school to school, depending on how much progress they have already made on the various elements of workforce reform. Delivering the changes is as much about different ways of working as it is about additional resources. Many schools will be able to implement the September 2003 changes from their existing budgets.
The phasing of the contractual changes means that the more radical provisions do not come into force until September 2005. We are working to ensure that the delivery of the Agreement will be sustainable, as we consider changes to the funding system for 2004–05 and beyond.
Schools Finance (Cornwall)
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Cornwall have a budget deficit; and what the size of the deficit is in each case. [119391]
Mr. Miliband: Information on the number of maintained schools in Cornwall carrying forward deficits at the end of the financial year 2002–03, and on the size of any deficits, will be contained in the outturn statement for 2002–03 which the local education authority is required to publish under section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The deadline for publication of these statements is not until October 2003.
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