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21 Feb 2005 : Column 294W—continued
School Organising Committees
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has provided on declaration of interests by members of school organising committees. [216437]
Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued guidance on the conduct of members of School Organisation Committees (SOCs) which includes advice that members should declare an interest in any proposal which directly affects a school at which they are a governor or which their children attend, or in which they might have a pecuniary interest in the decision made. The guidance suggests that any member with such an interest should withdraw from the discussion and take no part in the decision. Alternatively, where it is known in advance that a conflict of interest will arise, a member may invite an alternate, who has no interest to declare, to attend the meeting in his place.
Regulations also provide that where two groups on a SOC do not vote on a statutory proposal because members of two groups declare an interest, the proposals should be referred to the schools adjudicator for decision.
School Toilets
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend school premises regulations to stipulate the (a) suitability, (b) condition and (c) accessibility of pupils' toilets. [215712]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 are due to be revised within the next year and, subject to consultation, may be extended to place a duty on schools to maintain pupils' toilets in good condition, although the regulations do provide for necessary maintenance under the health, safety and welfare paragraph. Accessibility by disabled pupils is already covered by the regulations; suitability is taken into account in design for build, rebuild or refurbishment of premises.
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce legislation governing toilet provision for pupils in schools to bring provisions into line with those governing the adult workplace. [215713]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: Provision of toilet and wash facilities is covered by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. These regulations, which are due to be revised later this year, include a section on Health, Safety and Welfare. Paragraph 17(3) provides that
every part of a school building and of the land provided for a school shall be such that the health, safety and welfare of the occupants ... are reasonably assured".
This paragraph, we believe, should ensure that toilet provision equates with that provided for adults under Health and Safety legislation.
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how adherence to the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 is monitored with regard to the number of toilets and washbasins provided for pupils. [215714]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: The responsibility for enforcement of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 lies with local education authorities. The Department does not monitor individual schools for compliance with the regulations.
School Uniforms
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's policy is on school uniforms in primary schools. [217142]
Derek Twigg: School governing bodies are responsible for deciding whether their school should have a uniform policy, and if so, what it should consist of. The headteacher's role is to ensure pupils comply with the uniform policy agreed by the governing body.
When setting a uniform policy the Department expects school governing bodies to behave reasonably, considering the impact of their policies on parents and pupils.
Secondary Schools (Romford)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the performance of secondary schools in Romford. [217141]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: Between 1997 and 2003, the percentage of pupils achieving level 5 or above at key stage 3 in Romford constituency schools increased by 4.2 percentage points in English, by 9.2 percentage points in mathematics and by 7.3 percentage points in science. School level key stage 3 information for 2004 is not yet available. At key stage 4 there has been a significant increase of 20.6 percentage points in the attainment of 5A*-C GCSEs between 1997 and 2004, well above the national rate of improvement of 8.6 percentage points. A summary of secondary outcomes is set out in the following table.
Information about education and skills by constituency is made available by the Department through the 'In Your Area' website, available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea.
| English | Maths | Science | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 63 | 65.2 | 63 |
| 1998 | 64.3 | 62.3 | 61.5 |
| 1999 | 72.2 | 67.8 | 58.5 |
| 2000 | 71.3 | 70.6 | 61.1 |
| 2001 | 74.5 | 72.5 | 70.5 |
| 2002 | 70.3 | 74.4 | 72.6 |
| 2003 | 67.2 | 74.4 | 70.3 |
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| Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-C | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 41.7 |
| 1998 | 42.6 |
| 1999 | 46.8 |
| 2000 | 48.4 |
| 2001 | 47.6 |
| 2002 | 52.8 |
| 2003 | 58.2 |
| 2004 | 62.3 |
Sex Education
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will establish abstinence as the starting point for all sex education lessons; and if she will make a statement. [216438]
Derek Twigg: The Government believes that all young people should receive a balanced programme of sex and relationship education (SRE) at school, which encourages them to delay sexual activity until they are ready and prepares them to make responsible choices about their relationships when they do become sexually active.
In 2000, DfES issued guidance to schools on the teaching of SRE. Schools are required to adhere to the principles set out in the guidance, which makes clear that pupils should learn the reasons for delaying sexual activity and the benefits to be gained from such delay.
School Staff
Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants has changed in Stockton, South since 1997. [215311]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: Information for maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units, in Stockton, South is provided in the following table.
| January 1997 | January 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time equivalent number of teachers | 910 | 940 |
| Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants | 90 | 160 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Annual School Census
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were employed at all schools in Easington constituency in each year since 2001. [216091]
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
The full-time equivalent number of teachers in all maintained schools in Easington constituency is given in the following table.
21 Feb 2005 : Column 297W
(156) Includes middle schools as deemed.
(157) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
(158) Includes teachers with and without qualified teacher status.
(159) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Annual Schools' Census
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistant posts there were in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Leicester, South in each year since 1997. [216384]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: The full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants and other support staff in Leicester, South constituency is given in the following table:
(160) Includes middle schools as deemed.
(161) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Annual Schools' Census
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants are employed in schools in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington, North. [214971]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: In January 2004 there were 460 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units, in Warrington local education authority. There were 240 in Warrington, North parliamentary constituency.
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