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5 Nov 2003 : Column 700W—continued
Education Provision (East Riding)
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children in (a) the Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England remained in education after the completion of their GCSEs in each year since 1997. [136468]
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Mr. Miliband: Data on the percentage of students staying on in full-time education and education and training is not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs, as reliable estimates cannot be made.
The percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education, and in education and training, in East Riding of Yorkshire Local Education Authority and in England for end 1997 to end 2000, the latest available year, are shown in the table.
| End 1997 | End 1998 | End 1999 | End 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time education | ||||
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 70 | 71 | 72 | 74 |
| England | 70 | 70 | 71 | 71 |
| Education and training | ||||
| East Riding of Yorkshire | (17)n/a | 88 | 87 | 87 |
| England | 84 | 83 | 83 | 83 |
(17) Education and training figures by LEA were first published for 1998.
Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in an annual statistical bulletin, "Participation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England".
GCSE Syllabuses
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with examination boards about the compliance of GCSE syllabuses on child care and child development with the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. [135079]
Mr. Miliband: The responsibility for determining the content of GCSE syllabuses lies with the regulatory authority—the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)—and the awarding bodies. I have asked the QCA to consider whether the provisions of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes are adequately reflected in the awarding bodies' GCSE child care related syllabuses. The Chief Executive of QCA will advise you of the outcome in due course.
Key Stage Tests
Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children in Bath and North East Somerset in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2002–03 gained Level 4 or above in their Key Stage 2 tests in (i) English and (ii) mathematics. [136315]
Mr. Miliband: The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 in Bath and North East Somerset in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003 in (i) English and (ii) mathematics are as follows:
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| English | Mathematics | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ||
| Bath and North East Somerset | 68 | 66 |
| England | 63 | 62 |
| 2003 (provisional) | ||
| Bath and North East Somerset | 78 | 76 |
| England | 75 | 73 |
Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Bath and North East Somerset in 2002–03 were eligible to sit Key Stage 2 tests. [136342]
Mr. Miliband: The total number of children in Bath and North East Somerset who were eligible to sit Key Stage 2 tests were:
- 2003 (provisional): 1,811
2002: 1,801.
Local Education Authority Expenditure
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the target transitional grant for Staffordshire local education authority will be in the next two years; and what arrangements have been made for the provision of the grant. [136166]
Mr. Miliband: Details of the transitional support package for 2004–05 and 2005–06, including the arrangements for paying the targeted grant, will be published at the time of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this month.
On 29 October the government published indicative figures for the targeted grant in 2004–05, which have been placed in the Library of the House. These assumed that grant would be available to authorities whose increase in Education Formula Spending and relevant DfES grant between 2002–03 and 2004–05 would otherwise be less than 12 per cent. per pupil. The increase in Staffordshire LEA is expected to be above 12 per cent. per pupil over the relevant period, which means it would not be eligible for the targeted grant.
However, if Staffordshire or any other LEA is able to put forward a compelling case that additional, transitional funds are needed in the short term—above and beyond those already available to the LEA—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be prepared to consider bringing forward grant payments from my department, so that the LEA will have funds available in 2004–05 for this purpose, with the expectation of a consequential reduction to what they will receive in future years. The maximum amount that might be made available in this way would be a maximum of £300,000 per authority, or 0.2 per cent. of the authority's total education resources in 2004–05, if that is higher. For Staffordshire, 0.2 per cent. of its education resources would be over £800,000.
Ofsted Inspections
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the trends in the
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percentage of Year 10 and 11 lessons inspected by Ofsted and recorded as set by ability in (a) history, (b) geography, (c) modern languages, (d) science and (e) English between 1996 and 2002. [133829]
Mr. Miliband: The following tables show the percentages of lessons that inspectors recorded as setted by ability by subject in each year for pupils in years 10 and 11. These data are among the background information which are collected by inspectors to assist them in making judgments about standards achieved in schools and are not part of a representative survey of the use of setting by schools.
The table figures provide a useful indicative picture of the use of setting across subjects, with setting being used in the vast majority of schools in mathematics, more than three-quarters of schools in science, and between half and three quarters of schools in English and modern foreign languages. A more detailed study, undertaken over a number of years with a consistent sample of schools, would be needed to enable secure judgments to be made about trends.
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Qualifications
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what programmes are sponsored by his Department to ensure that (a) higher educational courses and (b) vocational training are responsive to forecast demand in the labour market. [136031]
Alan Johnson: There are a number of programmes that are responding to forecast labour market demands. In higher education they include: the expansion of Foundation Degrees, New Technology Institutes (NTI), the Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund, Aimhigher and the Enhancing Student Employability Co-ordination Team (ESECT).
In terms of vocational training, programmes such as Modern Apprenticeships and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships are designed to meet existing and future labour market needs. The Higher Education Funding Council and the Learning and Skills Council are working closely with the Skills for Business network and Regional Development Agencies to ensure that vocational qualifications meet the needs of local, regional and national labour markets. Further information is included in 21st Century Skills: Realising our Potential.
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the vocational training programmes recognised by his Department are structured in such a way that it is possible by undertaking additional further courses of study to obtain a degree level qualification. [136032]
Alan Johnson: All programmes at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework have the potential to allow students to undertake further courses of study to obtain a degree level qualification.
In particular reformed Advanced Modern Apprenticeship frameworks now include technical certificates. These are taken in addition to NVQ at Level 3 to assess underpinning occupational knowledge. Their inclusion in frameworks now allows for easier progression to higher education for those with the aptitude to do so.
We are also expanding the number of Foundation Degrees available, with 10,000 extra places from next year. These are new qualifications and provide opportunities for individuals to progress to full honours degrees.
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Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the evidential basis is for the statement in the Higher Education White paper that 80 per cent. of future jobs will require education to level 4. [136456]
Alan Johnson: The White Paper stated that:
'Between 1999 and 2010 the number of jobs in higher level occupations—the ones most likely to be filled by those who have been through higher education—will grow by over one and a half million. That represents 80 per cent. of new jobs over the decade'.
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