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14 Jun 2004 : Column 771W—continued
Careers Education and Guidance
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how he plans to ensure that impartial careers education and guidance are provided to all 13 to 19-year-olds as the wider range of options at Key Stage Four and beyond become available. [175852]
Margaret Hodge: Responsibility for the provision of careers education and guidance to 13 to 19-year-olds in England rests with schools and the Connexions Service. As the wider range of options at Key Stage Four and beyond becomes available, it will be important that STET young people are able to access good information and advice.
We are currently undertaking a review to ensure to have appropriate arrangements in place which make sense in the new environment created by the reforms outlined in "Every Child Matters" and the development of children's trust.
Child Care
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many children in Stoke-on-Trent, North have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [177641]
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(2) how many child care places have been created in Stoke-on-Trent, North since 1997. [177644]
Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Stoke-on-Trent, North. However, from April 1999 to March 2004, Stoke-on-Trent local authority created 3,660 new child care places helping some 6,451 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover of 2,169 helping some 3,895 children.
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what qualifications in childcare are necessary (a) to be a registered childminder, (b) to work in a day nursery, (c) to work in a nursery school or class and (d) to work in a pre-school play group; and if he will make a statement. [177522]
Margaret Hodge: The national standards for under 8s day care and childminding require that:
a childminder has completed a local authority approved childminder's pre-registration course and a first aid course within six months of commencing childminding;
the manager in a registered day care setting, including pre-schools, play groups and day nurseries, and all supervisors where full day care is provided, have at least a level 3 qualification appropriate to the post;
at least half of all other staff in a day care setting should hold a level 2 qualification appropriate for the care or development of children.
Staff employed in a teaching capacity in a nursery school or nursery class in a maintained school, should have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Children's Health
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to introduce specialist training for teachers on children's health issues. [177648]
Mr. Miliband: We do not prescribe any specialist training for teachers on children's health issues. We are however developing a common core of skills, knowledge and competence for members of the children and young people's workforce, including teachers, which will include safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We will consider in consultation with our partners how the common core will relate to initial teacher training, induction for newly qualified teachers and existing arrangements for professional development.
Class Sizes (Brighton and Hove)
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were in classes of 31 or more in infant schools and infant classes in primary schools in Brighton and Hove in each year since 1996–97. [176574]
Margaret Hodge:
The available data is shown in the table.
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| Number of pupils in classes of 31 or more | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total pupils in all classes | Number of pupils | Percentage of pupils(51) | |
| 1998 | 7,080 | 3,422 | 48.3 |
| 1999 | 6,988 | 2,811 | 40.2 |
| 2000 | 6,709 | 2,262 | 33.7 |
| 2001 | 6,517 | 408 | 6.3 |
| 2002 | 6,432 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | 6,353 | 32 | 0.5 |
| 2004(52) | 6,795 | 31 | 0.5 |
(49) Includes middle schools as deemed.
(50) Brighton and Hove became a unitary authority in April 1997 as a result of local government reorganisation.
(51) Percentage of pupils in those classes expressed as a percentage of pupils in all classes taught by one teacher.
(52) Provisional.
Source:
Annual Schools' Census.
Final 2004 figures will be published in September.
Computers in Schools
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many computers each school in (a) Leyton and Wanstead, (b) the London Borough of Redbridge and (c) the London Borough of Waltham Forest has for the education of pupils; and how many each had in 1997. [178191]
Mr. Miliband: The information requested is not available centrally.
Figures for England, which were derived from a sample of schools, are shown in the table.
| Maintained | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position as at 31 March: | Primary | Secondary | Special |
| 1997 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1998 | 13.3 | 100.9 | 18.5 |
| 2003 | 28.6 | 192.7 | 31.3 |
n/a=not available.
The latest available information on ICT in schools was published in Statistical Bulletin, "Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2003", which is available on the Department's website: www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils per computer there were in schools in (a) Merseyside and (b) Crosby in each year since 1996. [177865]
Mr. Miliband: The information requested is not available centrally.
Figures for England, which were derived from a sample of schools, are shown in the table.
14 Jun 2004 : Column 774W
| Maintained | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year end March: | Primary | Secondary | Special |
| 1996 | 19.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 |
| 1997 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1998 | 17.6 | 8.7 | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 13.4 | 8.4 | 3.7 |
| 2000 | 12.6 | 7.9 | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 11.8 | 7.1 | 3.2 |
| 2002 | 10.1 | 6.5 | 3.4 |
| 2003 | 7.9 | 5.4 | 3.0 |
n/a=not available.
(53) Full-time equivalent numbers of pupils.
The latest information on ICT in schools was published in Statistical Bulletin, "Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2003", which is available on my Department's website: www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/
Departmental Administration Budgets
Mr. Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 331. [176500]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the public spending settlements for 2006–08 to be announced in detail later this year. Within the overall settlement for education announced in the Budget, the administration costs of the DfES will be reduced by more than 5 per cent. in real terms over the spending review period.
Departmental Policies (Stroud)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the Stroud constituency, the effect of changes to departmental policy since 1997 on the Stroud constituency. [174834]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The constituency of Stroud falls within Gloucestershire Local Education Authority. Where the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) can or does collect information by constituency, it has been provided.
Additional information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we disseminate information about the effects of our policies at a local level. We hope to have systems to facilitate this in place later this year.
Children, Young People and Families
All three and four year olds throughout England are now guaranteed a free, part time, Government funded early education place if their parents want it. We understand that around 99 per cent. of four year olds, and over 94 per cent. of three year olds, are currently benefiting from some level of free early education in Gloucestershire.
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There has been a major expansion in childcare provision since 1997. We only have figures at local authority level, but at March 2004 we had created over 15,864 new childcare places in Gloucestershire since April 1999, benefiting 27,688 children. The current stock of childcare places (16,695) provides 16 childcare places per 100 children which is above the national average.
Children's social services in the constituency are delivered by Gloucestershire County Council. Gloucestershire is a two star social services authority with services for children and families assessed as serving most children well with promising prospects for improvement, which are higher ratings than were awarded in 2002. These judgements are set out in the annual review of Performance Ratings for Social Services in England published by the Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate in November 2003.
The Stroud constituency contains one Mini Sure Start Local Programme providing services for an identified 'pocket of deprivation' across Cam and Dursley. One Neighbourhood Nursery has opened in the constituency providing 50 full day care places, with another due to open in June 2004 which will offer a further 61 places.
Gloucestershire County Council intends to create six children's centres building on existing provision, including two Sure Start Local Programmes in Cheltenham and Gloucester. The Council is not currently developing plans for a centre within the Stroud constituency, but it is working on ways of ensuring a consistent approach across 'pockets of deprivation' to ensure all children and families in all neediest parts of the County receive the same high standard of integrated early years support.
Connexions, the Government's front line support service for all young people aged 13–19, is providing advice, guidance and support to young people in the Stroud constituency through Gloucestershire Connexions Partnership. Since its launch in April 2002 young people aged 13–19 have had access to support and advice on a range of issues to help them participate and achieve in education, employment and training and to reach their full potential as adults.
There is one local authority youth service in Gloucestershire The service was the subject of an Ofsted inspection in March 1998 and assessed to be a 'good' service. The service has fully embraced the Transforming Youth Work agenda.
The Department is funding two delivery strands to support the development of extended schools. Gloucestershire is due to receive both strands in 2005–06 subject to the detailed allocations of resources from the outcome of the current Spending Review.
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The estimated 1 increase in per pupil funding in real terms from 1997–98 to 2004–05 is £740 in Gloucestershire compared with the national average of £880.
Gloucestershire LEA had an allocation of £28.5 million (including £8.3 million which is devolved directly to schools and £2.7 million in Targeted Capital funding) for 2003–04 compared with £12.2 million in 1996–97. Gloucestershire LEA has been allocated £34.6 million for 2004–05 (including £5 million in Targeted Capital funding). Some VA allocations have still to be included for 2004–05.
Key Stage (KS) figures can be found on the DfES website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables
In Gloucestershire LEA the number of five, six and seven year olds in classes over 30 has fallen from 4,975 in 1997 to 156 by January 2003.
In Gloucestershire LEA the number of teachers has risen by 670 (FTE from 1997 to 2003). There are 285 more teaching assistants and 821 more support staff than in 1997.
There are six specialist schools in the parliamentary constituency of Stroud and 27 specialist schools in Gloucestershire LEA.
Gloucester EAZ started in January 2000, and covers 25 schools: three secondary; 20 primary schools; one special school and one pupil referral unit. Gloucester EAZ transforms into an Excellence Cluster in January 2005.
Between 2000–2003, there was no recorded improvement in those pupils that attended EAZ schools achieving 5 A*-C GCSEs (30 per cent. in both years). The LEA average improved by 4 points.
Between 2000–2003, there was a significant improvement in pupils' performance at Key Stage 3. Those achieving Level 5+ in English, Maths and Science and attending EAZ schools rose by 20; 9 and 11 points respectively. The LEA average improved by 3; 5 and 9 points respectively.
Between 2000–2003, pupils attending EAZ schools achieving L4+ in English, Maths and Science at Key Stage 2 rose by 1; 3 and 8 points respectively. The LEA average improved by 1; 4 and 4 points respectively.
Between 2000–2003, pupils attending EAZ schools achieving L2+ in Reading, Writing and Maths only rose in Reading (4 points);
achievement remained the same in the other subjects. The LEA average improved by 2 points in Reading, 1 point in Maths, but decreased by 2 points in Writing.
There are two beacon schools in the parliamentary constituency of Stroud and 15 beacon schools in Gloucestershire LEA.
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Forty seven primary schools in Gloucestershire LEA are taking part in the Primary Strategy Leadership programme this year. Additional schools will be selected by the LEA to enter the programme in 2004–05.
Five Gloucestershire schools receive the Leadership Incentive Grant totalling £754,000 in the 2004–05 financial year. There are no schools in Stroud which meet the eligibility criteria for this grant.
Behaviour Improvement Projects
All secondary schools in Gloucestershire receive support from the Behaviour and Attendance strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy, including a behaviour audit and training materials as well as support from specialist LEA-level consultants.
The Government's strategy for 14–19 education and training, set out in 14–19:
'opportunity and excellence', will provide all young people with the opportunity to continue their education in different settings, including schools, colleges, and the workplace.
The impact of the 14–19 agenda on Stroud includes:
16–19 Area Inspection (14–19 from March 2003)
Gloucestershire as it is not a borough that has had an Area Inspection.
Strategic Area Reviews (StARs)
In April 2003, all local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) started strategic area reviews (StARs) of post-16 LSC-funded provision. These reviews aim to achieve the right mix of provision in an area to improve participation, raise attainment and improve learner choice. StARs will ensure that there is the breadth of opportunity and quality of provision to meet the needs of learners, employers and communities.
All local LSCs have been gathering information, reviewing provider missions, and consequently building an understanding of each provider's role and the provision on offer. The next step is to develop strategic options.
In the case of LSC Gloucestershire, good progress has been made locally on StAR. The data gathering and analysis phase has been completed and used to identify the particular issues in Stroud district. This has enabled work to begin on developing strategic options. These will be discussed with a cross section of partners and stakeholders within Stroud at a district event in June.
It is anticipated that those attending will support the LSC in making sure all of the issues have been identified and provide input to build on the emerging options.
The outcome of this process will be a final set of strategic options that will be launched for consultation later in the year with a final set of options in place within the next local annual plan in the spring of 2005.
Learners in the Stroud area have access to 14 work based learning providers—they cover a wide range of vocational programmes covering occupational areas/sectors which are significant to the sub regional economy including hotels and restaurants, warehousing and distribution, construction, business and administration, health and care, engineering and retail. The programmes
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are available through Entry to Employment, and Level 2 and Advanced Apprenticeships [Level 3] and include opportunities for learners with social and learning needs.
In addition, Stroud College has worked in conjunction with eleven secondary schools and two specialist educational institutions to offer Year 10 and 11 pupils a range of high quality vocational programmes since September 2002. There are currently approx. 300 students on the programme. These have been jointly funded by the LSC, through the Increased Flexibility Initiative and by participating schools and Stroud College. A partnership steering group was formed at the outset and this meets on a termly basis to monitor and review the success of the programmes. Over the next two years it is planned to build on the achievements of the initiatives to date, focussing on the quality of teaching and learning, improving communication between all partners and building clear progression routes for students over the 14–19 age range.
Educational Maintenance Allowances
There are no EMA pilots in the Gloucestershire LEA area.
The number of 18–20 year olds permanently resident in Gloucester LEA accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree Higher Education courses (degree, HMD or foundation degree), are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2,631 |
| 1998 | 2,618 |
| 1999 | 2,601 |
| 2000 | 2,748 |
| 2001 | 2,721 |
| 2002 | 2,832 |
The Local Labour Force Survey shows that in Stroud:
The proportion of working age people qualified to at least level four has fallen from 30.5 per cent. in 1999 to 23.2 per cent. in 2002.
The proportion of working age people qualified to at least level 2 has risen from 66.0 per cent. in 1999 to 68.3 per cent. in 2002.
The proportion of working age people without any qualification has fallen from 12.2 per cent. in 1999 to 11.0 per cent. in 2002.
The proportion of working age people who received job related training in the last four weeks fell from 17.3 per cent. in 1999 to 11.0 per cent. in 2002.
1 Includes provisional estimates of grants and allocations still to be confirmed. Total funding per pupil aged 3–19 includes Education Formula Spending (EPS) and all relevant grants in the DfES departmental Expenditure Limits but, for comparability, exclude the pensions transfer to Learning and Skills Council and EFS in 2003–04 and 2004–05. Real terms at 2002–03 prices.
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