---

Secondary Schools (Cheshire)

4. Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con): If he will make a statement on the funding of secondary schools in Cheshire. [175992]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr. Stephen Twigg): On the latest available figures, funding for secondary pupils in Cheshire increased by £630 per pupil in real terms between 1997–98 and 2003–04.

Ann Winterton: Is the Minister aware of the financial problems that smaller comprehensive schools that lack a sixth form and do not have access to social deprivation funding face because of the recurrent budget cuts in Cheshire? They are schools, I hasten to add, that have addressed staff overspend and now have a good balance and that have provided clear evidence of strict financial planning.

Mr. Twigg: I am aware of that and aware that the hon. Lady wrote to my hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards about Middlewich high school. Officials in the Department are considering her letter, including the enclosure from the head teacher of that school, and liaising closely with officials in the local education authority in Cheshire. We will get back to the hon. Lady with a full response shortly.

Mr. Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): My hon. Friend will know the tremendous progress that has been made in school developments in my constituency and the Secretary of State recently visited one of our superb new primary schools. However, we have a problem with the development of specialist schools. A particular school is finding it very difficult to get anywhere near the £50,000 target that it needs to raise. Will my hon. Friend look closely at the needs of Sutton high school and help me to work with it to find solutions to that problem?

Mr. Twigg: I am happy to give my hon. Friend that undertaking. At earlier stages in the specialist schools programme, a number of schools around the country pointed out the difficulties that they had with the £50,000 requirement. Although we believe that most schools should be able to fulfil that requirement, we have established the partnership fund, which might be a source of support for my hon. Friend's school. I shall be happy to keep in touch with him as that matter progresses.

Mr. George Osborne (Tatton) (Con): Does the Minister agree that the funding mechanism restricts choice in places such as Cheshire? Each year, I receive many letters from parents who are bitterly disappointed because they cannot get their children—often along with
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1699
 
other members of their primary school class—into popular local secondary schools. Does he agree that, given that those secondary schools often want to accept such children, we should let the money follow the pupil and allow the good secondary schools to expand?

Mr. Twigg: Of course, that is exactly what we do; indeed, we have provided the opportunity for the most successful schools to expand where such potential exists. But Labour Members want to ensure that every neighbourhood in every part of the country has the highest quality schools, so that that option is available for the many, not just for the few.

Building Schools for the Future (Derbyshire)

5. Mr. Mark Todd (South Derbyshire) (Lab):What representations he has received concerning Derbyshire county council's building schools for the future bid. [175993]

The Minister for School Standards (Mr. David Miliband): We have received two representations relating to the use of private finance initiative credits, and to the announcement of the next waves of investment. In addition, an official from the Department has met representatives of Derbyshire county council.

Mr. Todd : The Government have a good story to tell in support of secondary education in South Derbyshire, particularly for schools such as John Port, to which £5 million was recently allocated for new and replacement buildings. However Derbyshire's building schools for the future programme focuses on the county's former coalfield communities, and in my area on schools in the Swadlincote community—William Allitt, Pingle and Granville—which are working closely with the local education authority on an exciting element of that bid. Will my hon. Friend bear that bid very strongly in mind in the next round?

Mr. Miliband: I am sure that my hon. Friend will want me to rehearse the rise in capital funding in Derbyshire since 1997—from £4 million to £40 million in this financial year. I certainly take very seriously his point about the need in coalfield communities for the sort of investment that he recommends, but, of course, Labour Members are committed to such investment throughout the country, starting in the areas of greatest need.

Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire) (Con): In wave 1 of this programme, of the 12 authorities that were successful only one was a shire council. Why?

Mr. Miliband: In fact, there are 14 authorities in wave 1, including two reserves. [Interruption.] Actually, 14 plus two reserves makes 16. The numeracy hour beckons for a certain Conservative Front Bencher. Perhaps he is auditioning for the role of shadow Secretary of State; I notice that the current one is not here today.

The simple answer to the question of the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) is that wave 1 was conducted on the basis of need; indeed, that is the basis on which all waves of the programme will be prioritised and on which we shall deal with the whole country.

Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): Can the Minister explain why Derbyshire did not get in on the
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1700
 
first round and may I add my support to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) to ensure that Derbyshire is included in the next round? Every single pit in the county is closed, many of the schools are ancient and Shirebrook in particular—as well as Swadlincote—should be high on the list. I hope that the Minister will provide the right answer.

Mr. Miliband: This is obviously an important issue so far as Shirebrook and Swadlincote are concerned and I hope that we will be able to cover all the issues. We had 52 applications for the first wave of the building schools for the future programme, in 2005–06, and we prioritised on the basis of need and of the impact on educational standards. We were able to help only 14, with two reserves, but I shall certainly bear in mind my hon. Friend's comments about Derbyshire's needs.

Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): Is my hon. Friend aware that, under the previous Government, Derbyshire county council received abysmal funding? This Government have more or less corrected that through the capital investment to which he has referred, but the past is still chained around our necks. On the programme of phased provision, it is important that we get such investment this year, particularly given that we missed it last year. It is especially necessary in areas of deprivation and the first five schools that would be provided for are in North-Eastern Derbyshire.

Mr. Miliband: I know that Derbyshire has submitted three projects to be considered across the life of the programme. I am glad to hear that Shirebrook is one of them. I hope for my hon. Friend's sake that it is in the top priority group that has been submitted by the LEA, not in the other two. I appreciate what he says about the difference that has been made. We want to make sure that there are modern learning facilities for all pupils, because that is vital for their education.

School Starting Age

6. Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North) (Lab): If he will make it his Department's policy to require children from areas of traditionally low educational attainment to start school in the year in which they are five, rather than the term in which they are five; and if he will make a statement. [175994]

The Minister for Children (Margaret Hodge): There are no plans to change the age when compulsory school starts. However, from April this year every three and four-year-old became entitled to free early education either in a school or in a private or voluntary pre-school setting.

We also have more than 500 Sure Start programmes, working with children and families in disadvantaged areas. By 2008, we plan to open at least 1,700 children centres delivering integrated child care and early education, together with family support and health services for children under five in the poorest communities.

Mr. Allen : I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does she accept that, in areas of chronic educational
 
27 May 2004 : Column 1701
 
under-attainment, it is important that there is a £3,000 grant for youngsters? It is important that we have on-site provision of further education in schools. However, the most important thing—certainly in my constituency it is essential—is that money is spent at the earliest opportunity. A pound spent on five-year-olds is worth £20 spent on those over 16. Will my hon. Friend look at the work of the city of Nottingham and consider writing to me about the possibility of all five-year-olds being at school for a full year rather than starting in the term in which they are five?

Margaret Hodge: I agree with my hon. Friend. All the research evidence further confirms his view that the early years of a child's life are crucial and determine children's outcomes as they grow up. I am sure that he agrees that a good early-years programme goes beyond early education and encompasses family support and community health services. I will write to him about his suggestion for his constituency. I am happy to discuss with him how we can raise attainment among young people in his constituency.

Jonathan Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford) (Lab): I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen). There is extensive research to show that, for boys born in the summer who start school at an early age, an early start affects their educational attainment and life opportunities, so it is an issue worthy of consideration. Of course, the Sure Start programme helps in the areas that have been referred to. We have 500; we need 500 more. I hope that they will be a priority for spending in the comprehensive spending review. Ministers should keep their minds open to creating flexibility and paths for individuals rather than making individuals fit into the system.

Margaret Hodge: My hon. Friend is right to bring our attention to the research on outcomes for summer-born children. The fact that we have extended the opportunity for early education to all three and four-year-olds will mitigate the phenomenon to some extent. We should begin to understand how that affects children's opportunities before we consider changing the compulsory school starting age. We keep these matters constantly under review. Everything that happens in the early years of a child's life from birth to five, including what we do to support parents, is crucial to the outcome when that child grows up.

---