15 Jul 2003 : Column 141W

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 15 July 2003

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Connexions

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of the Connexions service as a universal advice service for all young people. [123693]

Margaret Hodge: There are now 47 Connexions partnerships in operation covering all of England. 31 started during the financial year 2002–03. The last one started in April 2003. Ofsted have reported full inspections of six partnerships so far and initial indications are that Connexions partnerships are making progress at different rates with implementation of services. Performance was assessed as good in four of the partnerships, while the other two were rated as less effective. There is now a substantial programme of work developing performance in these two partnerships to address the concerns expressed by Ofsted.

Among the findings from an independent survey of 16,000 young people who had been in contact with Connexion services were the following:


Connexions provides more than just advice on careers, jobs and training, with 21 per cent. of young people receiving advice on money and benefits, 11 per cent. on stress, 10 per cent. on alcohol and drugs, 7 per cent. on bullying and 7 per cent. on sexual health matters.

Departmental Policies (Pendle)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what policies (a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124096]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: Outlined are details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Pendle constituency and Lancashire LEA.

15 Jul 2003 : Column 142W

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)—East Lancashire Transport Pilot

This is a pilot EMA area operating the transport variation. Young People receive a free travel pass to their place of learning. They can also receive up to three £50 bonuses a year plus a £50 achievement bonus at the end of their studies.

Schools in Special Measures

There is one school in Nelson—Maries Hill Pupil Referral Unit—which has been in special measures since February 2003.

Extended School Pathfinder

Lancashire is one of 25 LEAs that has received £200,000 in 2002–03 to run an extended school pathfinder (made available through the Standards Fund). An additional £25,000 was allocated to each of the pathfinders specifically for childcare provision. Overall the aim of the pathfinders has been to test out various approaches used by schools and authorities in the development of family and community facilities and services on school premises.

The Lancashire pathfinder has built upon existing and emerging developments in community use of maintained schools in the County. The project has focused primarily on five specific areas in the county where serious issues of social unrest, lack of community cohesion, significant levels of deprivation and poor health have already been identified. One of the five areas is Pendle, where six schools have been involved (listed as follows)

The six Pendle schools are:


Connexions

Connexions is the Government's front line support service for all young people in England aged 13–19. It is a universal service, offering integrated information, advice and guidance and access to personal development opportunities, to help remove barriers to learning and progression and ensure young people make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life. The headline aim is to reduce the number of young people aged 16–18 years who are not in education, employment or training.

Connexions Lancashire went live in April 2002. Its budgets were:

£
2002–0312,132,753
2003–0412,666,525

Note:

A breakdown for Pendle itself cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

School Achievement Awards


15 Jul 2003 : Column 143W

The following schools in Pendle have received School Achievement Awards since 2001:

Round one awards announced March 2001


Round two awards announced March 2002


Round three awards announced May 2003


15 Jul 2003 : Column 144W

Lancashire LEA have not bid for any capital funding for Pendle through any of the bidding rounds since 2001. The only funding going specifically to schools in Pendle (through Lancashire LEA) is devolved formula capital which started in 2000–01. The amount of devolved going to Pendle would only be known by the LEA.

Since 1999 the LEA has received the following capital allocations:

£000

Capital allocation
1999–20003,5179
2000–0138;021
2001–0229,778
2002–0344,303
2003–0462,607

School Attendance

Lancashire is one of the Authorities that have been funded through the £11.25 million Capital Modernisation Funding project to provide funding for electronic registration systems in secondary schools with high levels of unauthorised absence which was initiated by the Department in 2001–02. Lancashire has received £444,340 towards setting up electronic registration in 23 secondary schools including two schools (Walton High School and West Craven High School) in the Pendle constituency receiving a total of £38,570. Independent evaluation has shown that, used effectively, electronic registration can significantly reduce levels of truancy within the first two years of implementation.

Lancashire has also participated in the nationally co-ordinated truancy sweeps, for example in December 178 truants were found. Lancashire also conducts a termly programme of truancy sweeps. Truancy sweeps have not only been found useful in returning truanting children back to school and publicising the importance of school attendance, but also through them children who have been missing from the school system altogether have been identified.

Exclusions

Pendle district has two Pupil Referral Units: Maries Hill PRU (40 places), and Pendle PRU (24 places). The LEA has a well structured Pupil Referral Service with clear policies and procedures for admissions and exit.

On reintegration of teenage parents into education

Lancashire has received funding from the DfES Standards Fund since 2000 to help reduce the levels of conception for under 18 by half by 2010—and the social exclusion of teenage parents within the Authority. Details of funding are as follows:

£
2000–01137,400
2001–02137,400
2002–03163,847

Lancashire has recruited five part time Learning Mentors to complement the work of the re-integration officer. For example, altogether they dealt with over 140

15 Jul 2003 : Column 145W

secondary educational bases. 62 young girls and four young men were referred to the re-integration officer in the 2001–02 financial year.

Beacon Schools

There are currently two beacon schools in the Pendle constituency—they are Laneshaw Bridge Primary School and Walton Lane Nursery School. Laneshaw Bridge became a beacon school in September 2000 and has just has its beacon status renewed for a further year until September 2004. Walton Lane Nursery School became a beacon school in September 2001 and its beacon status also ends in September 2004.

Newchurch in Pendle St. Mary's CE Primary School ceased to be a beacon school in September 2002.

Pathfinder Young Community Champions Fund (PYCCF) Funding

£45,000 shared between four Boroughs (February 2003—September 2004).




Next Section Index Home Page