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Information Technology (Schools)

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the computer to pupil ratio was in Bath and North East Somerset in each year since 1997. [196764]

Mr. Miliband: The information is not available in the form requested.

Figures for England, which were derived from a sample of schools, are shown in the table. Figures at sub-national level are not available as the sample was not large enough to provide reliable estimates.
Average number of pupils(22) per computer(23) by type ofschool—England

Year end
March
Maintained primaryMaintained secondaryMaintained special
199619.09.04.0
1997n/an/an/a
199817.68.74.5
199913.48.43.7
200012.67.93.7
200111.87.13.2
200210.16.53 4
20037.95.43.0
20047.54.93.1




n/a = not available.
(22) Full-time equivalent numbers of pupils.
(23) Used solely or mainly for teaching and learning purposes.


The latest provisional data on ICT in schools was published in the Statistical First Release Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2004 which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Medical Students

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) men and (b) women are training to be doctors at medical schools. [195924]

Dr. Howells: The available information is given in the table.
Enrolments to clinical and pre-clinical medicine courses atUK HE institutions, 2002/03

GenderEnrolments
Male17,245
Female22,630
Total39,875




Note:
Figures are a snapshot as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest 5.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).



Ofsted Inspections

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Ofsted inspections of schools in
 
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(a) the Greater London area and (b) London borough of Wandsworth there have been in each of the last three years. [196726]

Mr. Miliband: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Physical Education

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers are employed in schools solely to teach physical education, broken down by education authority; and if he will make a statement. [196506]

Mr. Miliband: This information is not collected centrally.

Table 24 of the School Workforce in England Statistical Volume, 2003 edition shows the numbers of teachers of physical education in secondary schools in
 
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England. The table includes all teachers who teach some physical education not just those employed solely to teach it. The information is not available by local education authority.

A copy of the volume has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Alternatively it may be accessed at the following URL: www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000380/index.shtml

Performing Arts

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were studying for a degree or other Level 4 qualification in the performing arts in the most recent year for which information is available (a) in England, (b) in England from overseas and (c) in each region of England, broken down by type of Level 4 qualification. [196412]

Dr. Howells: The available information has been taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and is given in the table.
Students on undergraduate performing arts(24) courses at English HE institutions, 2002/03

Government Office Region of institutionFirst degreeFoundation degreeDiploma of HEHNDOther UG(25)Total UG
North East6152503545720
Yorkshire and Humberside2,4150001002,515
North West3,975001351154,225
East Midlands1,2300011551,345
Eastern1,6755001901852,095
South East3,10530903354003,955
London6,7955901256957,710
South West1,4356551905602,255
West Midlands2,120020501602,345
All English HEIs23,3551752001,1702,26527,170
Of which overseas31,690515201951,915


(24) 'Performing Arts' has been taken to include music, dance and drama.
(25) Includes students studying for professional qualifications and other certificates and diplomas at undergraduate level.
(26) Includes EU domiciled students.
Note:
Figures are a snapshot as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest 0 or 5.
Source:
HESA.




Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what circumstances performing arts students are entitled to student loans and fee support; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on support for Level 4 students. [196413]

Dr. Howells: The Government supports a range of performing arts students with the standard package of Higher Education fees and loans for training at Level 4. This includes those pursuing degrees or diplomas on courses designated for student support in mainstream Higher Education, at universities or other institutions providing HE courses.

In addition, 525 students start courses each year supported by the Dance and Drama Awards which provide support with fees and means tested support for the student fee contribution and living costs The Awards provide performance training at Level 4 leading to Trinity College London Diplomas in private schools of dance and drama.

Pupil Referral Units

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Pupil Referral Units in (a) raising levels of attainment, (b) enabling pupils to return to mainstream schools and (c) improving attendance. [194767]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) are inspected by Ofsted to assess the quality of the provision being delivered by LEAs and to address any instances where it falls below our expectations. PRUs form a significant element within each LEA's alternative provision strategy. However, in June 2003, Ofsted reported that the quality of alternative provision made for older pupils is variable. Well run PRUs make a great difference to their pupils, and we are disseminating guidance on good practice to help LEAs improve their effectiveness. We will also expect PRUs to work with groups of schools which take collective responsibility for managing excluded pupils and those at risk of exclusion, and provision for them.
 
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School Playing Fields

Mr. Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he has (a) received and (b) been notified of proposals to sell school playing fields since the publication of new guidance on the matter. [197238]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: On 27 August, we announced our intention to tighten up the criteria against which applications for consent to dispose of school playing fields would be assessed. Following consultation with the independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel, we have published the new guidance today. I have not yet received, or been notified of, any proposals to sell school playing fields under the new guidance.

Scientists in Higher Education

Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the retention rate of scientists employed by universities. [195633]

Dr. Howells: We have made no assessment of the retention rate of scientists employed by universities. However, we do have access to the latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, which is shown in the following table. We have taken 'scientists' to mean academic staff in all science subjects.
Retention rates(27) of academic staff(28) on permanent contractsUK HE institutions

Percentage
Academic yearStaff in science departments(29)All staff
1994/959797
2002/039696


(27) The retention rate is defined as the proportion of staff who were recorded at the same institution at both the beginning and end of the academic year.
(28) Covers full-time and part-time staff on permanent contracts.
(29) Includes staff in cost centres covering all science subjects.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency's Staff Record.




Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average age is of scientists with permanent contracts employed by universities; and what the average age was 10 years ago. [195634]

Dr. Howells: The latest available figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, are shown in the following table. Information for 1992/93 is not held centrally. We have taken 'scientists' to mean academic staff in all science subjects. As well as figures for science staff, we have shown figures for all staff for comparison.
Average age of academic staff(30) UK HE Institutions

Academic yearsStaff in science departments(31)All staff
1994/95(32)4545
2002/034646


(30) Covers full-time and part-time staff on permanent contracts.
(31) Includes staff in cost centres covering all science subjects.
(32) Earliest comparable figures—information for 1992/93 is not held centrally.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency's Staff Record.




 
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