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25 Oct 2005 : Column 210W—continued
Class Sizes
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the percentage of classes in key stage 1 over the statutory maximum class size of 30; what the percentage was in academic year 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [16937]
Jacqui Smith: In January 2005, 1.2 per cent. of all key stage 1 classes had more than 30 pupils in them. In January 1997 the comparable figure was 29.0 per cent. and in January 2001 it was 2.3 per cent.
The majority of key stage 1 classes over 30 have exceeded the statutory limit to accommodate permitted exceptions, such as children who move into an area after the start of term who would have a long journey to the next school with places available. However, my officials are contacting local authorities to discuss those classes which are illegally large, to ensure that the required measures are taken to reduce them.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size for each primary school in Romford was in each of the past 10 years. [20796]
Jacqui Smith: The available information relating to the average for all primary school classes is shown in the table. Parliamentary constituency data are not available prior to 1997.
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n/a = not applicable.
(3) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
Source:
Annual Schools' Census.
Cricket
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to encourage the playing of cricket in state schools. [21061]
Jacqui Smith: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of physical education and sport in schools. This includes competitive team games such as cricket.
Cricket may be taught to pupils in schools as part of the programme of study for games activities within National Curriculum PE. Games activities must be taught to all pupils in key stages 1–3 (age 5–14) and are optional at key stage 4 (age 14–16).
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We have made cricket one of 22 key sports within the School Club Links workstrand of our National Strategy for PE and School Sport. This workstrand seeks to enhance existing, and create new, links between schools and sports clubs, and to increase the number of school children being guided into National Governing Body affiliated sports clubs.
The 2004/05 PE and School Sport Survey of schools in School Sport Partnerships found that cricket was the second most popular sport (behind football) for which schools had formal links with sports clubs, with 46 per cent. of schools having links with a local cricket club. The survey also found that 85 per cent. of schools provided cricket for their pupils, either in lesson time or after school. This was the sixth most popular sport provided in schools. Copies of the results of the survey have been placed in the House Libraries.
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Educational Attainment
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives her Department has launched to raise attainment in deprived areas; what the cost has been of such initiatives; and what evaluation she has made of their effectiveness. [19199]
Jacqui Smith: The Government's principal initiatives to raise attainment in deprived areas have been Excellence in Cities (EiC), Education Action Zones (EAZ), the Leadership Incentive Grant (LIG) and the London Challenge (LC). These initiatives provide additional funding for schools serving deprived communities. The total costs are provided in table 1.
Table 2 indicates the effectiveness of each programme in terms of increases in the percentage of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at grade C and above. The year by year increases in schools in receipt of the various initiatives has always been above the national average trend. More formal evaluation of the initiatives is in progress, and will be published in due course.
(4) Schools in EiC partnerships.
(5) All London secondary schools.
(6) All maintained schools.
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