House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 11 Nov 2004 (pt 36)

11 Nov 2004 : Column 931W—continued

School Governors

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what rights of appeal a school governor has against suspension. [197657]

Mr. Miliband: A school governor has no right of appeal against suspension.

Any motion to suspend a governor must be specified as an agenda item of a meeting for which at least seven days notice must be given. Before the governing body votes to suspend a governor, the governor or governors proposing the suspension must give their reasons for doing so and the governor who is proposed for suspension must be given the opportunity to make a statement in response. A vote on the issue must then be taken at a meeting of the full governing body.

A governing body can only decide to suspend a governor in the very limited range of circumstances as set out in the School Governance (Procedures) (England Regulations 2003. These are:

(a) the governor is paid to work at the school and is the subject of disciplinary proceedings in relation to his employment; or

(b) the governor is the subject of any court or tribunal proceedings, the outcome of which may be that he is disqualified from continuing to hold office as a governor under schedule 6 of the Constitution Regulations; or

(c) the governor has acted in a way that is inconsistent with the school's ethos or with the religious character and has brought or is likely to bring the school or the governing body or his office of governor into disrepute; or

(d) the governor is in breach of his duty of confidentiality to the school or to the staff or to the pupils.

11 Nov 2004 : Column 932W

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what process a school governing body has to undertake to remove a governor. [197677]

Mr. Miliband : A governing body may remove from office community governors, any parent governors who have been appointed, and sponsor governors. Sponsor governors may also be removed at the request of the nominating body. The governing body may not remove any parent governors who have been elected, any staff governors or any LEA governors. LEA governors may, however, be removed by the LEA that appointed them. In the case of the removal of any community governor, appointed parent governor, or sponsor governor whose removal is requested by the governing body, the governor(s) proposing the removal must give the reasons for the proposed removal and the governor in question must be given the opportunity to make a statement in response before a vote is taken on a resolution to remove the governor in question.

A governing body's decision to remove any community, sponsor, or appointed parent governor must be confirmed at a second meeting not less than 14 days after the first meeting. At both meetings, the removal of the governor in question must be specified as an agenda item.

School Inspections

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will reduce the inspection requirements on schools with a good inspection track record. [197184]

Mr. Miliband: In June 2004, the Department and Ofsted published "A New Relationship with Schools", setting out our plans for a shorter, sharper school inspection system, based around a schools own self-evaluation. From September 2005 all school inspections will provide schools with less notice of an inspection, involve fewer inspectors, spending less time in schools. Hence all schools will experience a significantly reduced weight of inspection. The proposals will require that all schools be inspected at least once every three years, providing more relevant information for parents and their communities, but will operate such that higher performing schools can expect to receive fewer inspection visits. There are no plans to introduce further differentiation in inspection requirements at this stage.

Teacher Applicants

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applicants have been refused in each year since the establishment of qualified teacher status. [197200]

Mr. Miliband: This information is not collected centrally.

School Targets

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list all the schools targets set by the Government in Spending Reviews since 1997, indicating whether or not they have been reached. [186472]

11 Nov 2004 : Column 933W

Mr. Miliband: The following table lists all the schools targets set by the Government in spending reviews since 1997. My hon. Friend may wish to note that only CSR 1998 targets have had a final assessment, all others are

11 Nov 2004 : Column 934W

ongoing. Progress reports against PSA targets from the 2000 and 2002 Spending Reviews are set out in the 2004 DfES departmental report, a copy of which I have placed in the House of Commons Library.
Annex A: Reconciliation table—DfES targets

CSR 1998 PSA Targets Spending Review 2000 PSA Targets Spending Review 2002 PSA Targets Spending Review 2004 PSA Targets

1. The number of pupils aged five, six or seven in infant classes of over 30 to fall from 477,000 to zero by September 2001 at the latest.
Target met

2. Increase the proportion of those aged 11 meeting the standard of literacy for that age (level 4 in the Key Stage 2 test) from 63 per cent. to 80 per cent. by 2002.
75 per cent. by 2002
3. Increase the proportion of those aged 11 meeting the standard of numeracy for that age (level 4 in the Key Stage 2 test) from 62 per cent. to 75 per cent. by 2002.
73 per cent. by 2002 1. Increase the percentage of 11 year olds at or above the expected standard of literacy and numeracy for their age. By 2004:
Increase the percentage of children who achieve level 4 in each of the key stage 2. English and maths tests beyond the targets for 2002 of 80 per cent. in English and 75 per cent. in maths to 85 per cent. by 2004; and
Reduce to zero the number of local education authorities where fewer than 78 per cent. of pupils at level 4 or above achieve these standards.
1. Raise standards in English and maths so that:
by 2004, 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 or above and 35 per cent. achieve level 5 or above with this level of performance sustained until 2006; and
by 2006, the number of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above is significantly reduced.
1. Raise standards in English and maths so that:
by 2006, 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 or above, with this level of performance sustained to 2008; and
by 2008, the proportion of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above is reduced by 40 per cent.

4. A reduction by one third in school truancies (from 0.7 per cent. to 0.5 per cent. half days missed a year through unauthorised absence); (Unauthorised absence remained at 0.7 per cent. as it has since 1994)
and exclusions (from 12,500 to 8,400 permanent exclusions a year) by 2002. Target met 2. On pupil inclusion:
By 2004, reduce school truancies by 10 per cent. compared to 2002 and to sustain the new lower level, and improve overall attendance levels thereafter.
ensure that all pupils who are permanently excluded obtain an appropriate full-time education.
2. Improve levels of school attendance so that by 2008, school absence is reduced by 8 per cent. compared to 2003.

5. Increase the proportion of those aged 16 who achieve one or more GCSEs at Grade G, or equivalent from 92 per cent. to 95 per cent. by 2002. 94.6 per cent. by 2002

6. Increase the proportion of those aged 16 who achieve five or more GCSEs at Grades A*-C from 45 per cent. to 50 per cent. by 2002.
Target met (51.6 per cent.) 3. Increase the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C (or equivalent):
increase the proportion achieving the standard by 4 percentage points between 2002 and 2004; and
at least 38 per cent. to achieve this standard in every LEA by 2004.
3. Raise standards in schools and colleges so that:
between 2002 and 2006 the proportion of those aged 16 who get qualifications equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A*-C rises by 2 percentage points each year on average and in all schools at least 20 per cent. of pupils achieve this standard by 2004 rising to 25 per cent. by 2006: and
3. By 2008, 60 per cent. of those aged 16 to achieve the equivalent of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C; and in all schools, at least 20 per cent. of pupils to achieve this standard by 2004, rising to 25 per cent. by 2006 and 30 per cent. by 2008. (This target may be reviewed in the light of recommendations in the Tomlinson report.)

4. Increase the percentage of 14 year olds at or above the standard of literacy, numeracy, science and ICT for their age.
by 2007, 85 per cent. to achieve level 5 or above in each of the key stage 3 tests in English, maths and ICT and 80 per cent. in science;
as milestones towards that target 75 per cent. to achieve level 5 in English, maths and ICT and 70 per cent. in science by 2004;
by 2004, as a minimum performance target at least 65 per cent. to achieve level 5 and above in English and maths, and 60 per cent. in science in each LEA; and
by 2004, no more than 15 per cent. of pupils will fail to attain at least one level 5.
4. Raise standards in English, maths, ICT and science in secondary education so that:
by 2004, 75 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above in English, maths and ICT (70 per cent. in science) nationally and by 2007, 85 per cent. (80 per cent. in science):
by 2007, the number of schools where fewer than 60 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above is significantly reduced; and
by 2007, 90 per cent. of pupils reach level 4 in English and maths by age 12.
4. Raise standards in English, maths, ICT and science in secondary education so that:
by 2007, 85 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above in English, maths and ICT (80 per cent. in science) nationally, with this level of performance sustained to 2008;
and by 2008, in all schools at least 50 per cent. of pupils achieve level 5 or above in each of English, maths and science.

5. Increase the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grades A*-G (or equivalent), including English and maths: by 2004, 92 per cent. of 16 year olds should reach this standard.

6. Complete benchmarking work for schools by December 2002 so that schools will then be able meaningfully to compare costs with one another and thus improve value for money year on year. Progress reported in Departmental Report in 2003 as being 'A framework of Consistent Financial Reporting has been established requiring all maintained schools to report their accounts in a standardised way and treated as 'Met'. This will be formally signed off in 2004.

5. Enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by 5- to 16-year-olds by increasing the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum from 25 per cent. in 2002 to 75 per cent. by 2006. Joint target with Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 5. Enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by five to 16 year olds so that the percentage of school children in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum increases from 25 per cent. in 2002 to 75 per cent. by 2006 and to 85 per cent. by 2008, and to at least 75 per cent. in each School Sport Partnership by 2008. (Joint target with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

11 Nov 2004 : Column 935W

CSR 1998 PSA Targets	Spending Review 2000 PSA Targets	Spending Review 2002 PSA Targets	Spending Review 2004 PSA Targets
1. The number of pupils aged five, six or seven in infant classes of over 30 to fall from 477,000 to zero by September 2001 at the latest. Target met
2. Increase the proportion of those aged 11 meeting the standard of literacy for that age (level 4 in the Key Stage 2 test) from 63 per cent. to 80 per cent. by 2002. 75 per cent. by 2002 3. Increase the proportion of those aged 11 meeting the standard of numeracy for that age (level 4 in the Key Stage 2 test) from 62 per cent. to 75 per cent. by 2002. 73 per cent. by 2002	1. Increase the percentage of 11 year olds at or above the expected standard of literacy and numeracy for their age. By 2004: Increase the percentage of children who achieve level 4 in each of the key stage 2. English and maths tests beyond the targets for 2002 of 80 per cent. in English and 75 per cent. in maths to 85 per cent. by 2004; and Reduce to zero the number of local education authorities where fewer than 78 per cent. of pupils at level 4 or above achieve these standards.	1. Raise standards in English and maths so that: by 2004, 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 or above and 35 per cent. achieve level 5 or above with this level of performance sustained until 2006; and by 2006, the number of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above is significantly reduced.	1. Raise standards in English and maths so that: by 2006, 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 or above, with this level of performance sustained to 2008; and by 2008, the proportion of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above is reduced by 40 per cent.
4. A reduction by one third in school truancies (from 0.7 per cent. to 0.5 per cent. half days missed a year through unauthorised absence); (Unauthorised absence remained at 0.7 per cent. as it has since 1994) and exclusions (from 12,500 to 8,400 permanent exclusions a year) by 2002. Target met	2. On pupil inclusion: By 2004, reduce school truancies by 10 per cent. compared to 2002 and to sustain the new lower level, and improve overall attendance levels thereafter. ensure that all pupils who are permanently excluded obtain an appropriate full-time education.		2. Improve levels of school attendance so that by 2008, school absence is reduced by 8 per cent. compared to 2003.
5. Increase the proportion of those aged 16 who achieve one or more GCSEs at Grade G, or equivalent from 92 per cent. to 95 per cent. by 2002. 94.6 per cent. by 2002
6. Increase the proportion of those aged 16 who achieve five or more GCSEs at Grades A*-C from 45 per cent. to 50 per cent. by 2002. Target met (51.6 per cent.)	3. Increase the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C (or equivalent): increase the proportion achieving the standard by 4 percentage points between 2002 and 2004; and at least 38 per cent. to achieve this standard in every LEA by 2004.	3. Raise standards in schools and colleges so that: between 2002 and 2006 the proportion of those aged 16 who get qualifications equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A*-C rises by 2 percentage points each year on average and in all schools at least 20 per cent. of pupils achieve this standard by 2004 rising to 25 per cent. by 2006: and	3. By 2008, 60 per cent. of those aged 16 to achieve the equivalent of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C; and in all schools, at least 20 per cent. of pupils to achieve this standard by 2004, rising to 25 per cent. by 2006 and 30 per cent. by 2008. (This target may be reviewed in the light of recommendations in the Tomlinson report.)
	4. Increase the percentage of 14 year olds at or above the standard of literacy, numeracy, science and ICT for their age. by 2007, 85 per cent. to achieve level 5 or above in each of the key stage 3 tests in English, maths and ICT and 80 per cent. in science; as milestones towards that target 75 per cent. to achieve level 5 in English, maths and ICT and 70 per cent. in science by 2004; by 2004, as a minimum performance target at least 65 per cent. to achieve level 5 and above in English and maths, and 60 per cent. in science in each LEA; and by 2004, no more than 15 per cent. of pupils will fail to attain at least one level 5.	4. Raise standards in English, maths, ICT and science in secondary education so that: by 2004, 75 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above in English, maths and ICT (70 per cent. in science) nationally and by 2007, 85 per cent. (80 per cent. in science): by 2007, the number of schools where fewer than 60 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above is significantly reduced; and by 2007, 90 per cent. of pupils reach level 4 in English and maths by age 12.	4. Raise standards in English, maths, ICT and science in secondary education so that: by 2007, 85 per cent. of 14-year-olds achieve level 5 or above in English, maths and ICT (80 per cent. in science) nationally, with this level of performance sustained to 2008; and by 2008, in all schools at least 50 per cent. of pupils achieve level 5 or above in each of English, maths and science.
	5. Increase the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grades A*-G (or equivalent), including English and maths: by 2004, 92 per cent. of 16 year olds should reach this standard.
	6. Complete benchmarking work for schools by December 2002 so that schools will then be able meaningfully to compare costs with one another and thus improve value for money year on year. Progress reported in Departmental Report in 2003 as being 'A framework of Consistent Financial Reporting has been established requiring all maintained schools to report their accounts in a standardised way and treated as 'Met'. This will be formally signed off in 2004.
		5. Enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by 5- to 16-year-olds by increasing the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum from 25 per cent. in 2002 to 75 per cent. by 2006. Joint target with Department for Culture, Media and Sport.	5. Enhance the take-up of sporting opportunities by five to 16 year olds so that the percentage of school children in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum increases from 25 per cent. in 2002 to 75 per cent. by 2006 and to 85 per cent. by 2008, and to at least 75 per cent. in each School Sport Partnership by 2008. (Joint target with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)