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6 Feb 2006 : Column 1003W—continued
Education Statistics (Wandsworth)
Mr. Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size is in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Wandsworth. [47754]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
| Maintained primary | 25.8 |
| Maintained secondary | 21.6 |
(52) Includes middle schools as deemed.
(53) One teacher classes.
(54) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census.
Source:
Annual Schools Census
Education White Paper
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with representatives from the North East region regarding the education White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All". [48392]
Jacqui Smith:
The Secretary of State has been in the north east of England on a number of occasions in recent months. She met with local MPs and councillors and among other issues she discussed the White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All". She also addressed the delegates in the North of England Conference in Gateshead on 6 January.
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Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many representations she has received from Wales about the cross-border implications of the White Paper on Schools, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All: More Choice for Parents and Pupils". [48446]
Jacqui Smith: The Department has received over 200 representations from a wide range of organisations, Members of Parliament and members of the public which directly refer to the White Paper. We have not received any representations from Wales which specifically refer to cross border implications of the White Paper on Schools, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All: More Choice for Parents and Pupils".
Educational Attainment
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of candidates achieved five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, excluding BTEC First diplomas or equivalent, in each of the last six years. [45376]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 24 January 2006]: The figures requested are included in the following table. BTEC First diplomas were not included in GCSE and equivalent results prior to 2004.
(55) BTEC First diplomas were only included in GCSE results from 2004. Results only included GCSEs and GNVQs between 2000 and 2003.
(56) The figures shown relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year (ie 31 August).
(57) 2005 figures are revised. 2004 figures are final.
English Folk Dance and Song
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will include teaching of English folk dance and song within the national curriculum; and if she will make a statement. [48857]
Jacqui Smith: Within the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Physical Education there is already provision for the teaching of dances which reflect different times and cultures. The National Curriculum Programme for Study for Music states that the breadth of study should be taught through a range of music from different times and cultures which may include music from the British Isles.
We have moved away from a prescriptive curriculum and no longer explicitly state exactly what must be taught in any subject. Indeed, we have given teachers this flexibility as they will know the best ways to address the needs of their pupils.
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Excellence Centres
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) in which constituencies early excellence centres are located; [43935]
(2) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time places have been available at early excellence centres in each year for which figures are available. [43937]
Beverley Hughes: There are 107 early excellence centres (EEC) across England, of these six deliver special projects across the country and the others are based around schools and early years settings. We do not hold information on the constituencies covered by the centres. The following table lists the number of centres within each local authority.
We do not collect information about the number of full or part-time places provided by individual centres. Centres provide a range of services including: one-stop shop activities like parent/carer drop-ins, access to adult education and training, home visiting, health visitor and therapist services, information and counselling.
Note:
The six special projects are not based at any particular setting.
6 Feb 2006 : Column 1006W
Fire Safety
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's timetable is for bringing forward final proposals on design and managing against the risk of fire in schools. [45021]
Jacqui Smith: The draft of Building Bulletin 100, Designing and Managing Against the Risk of Fire in Schools", has been out to public consultation and an analysis of the responses should be completed by the end of March. Work will then commence on a final version and we expect to be able to publish this during the summer.
Free Milk
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of school age children received free milk on the latest date for which figures are available. [48065]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.
GCSE Performance
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to improve the performance of pupils who attain fewer than five GCSEs or equivalent at grade A* to C. [47955]
6 Feb 2006 : Column 1007W
Jacqui Smith: We have made good progress in the number of pupils getting five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grade A* to C. In 2005, 56.3 per cent. of 15- year-olds achieved five or more GCSEs or equivalent—a 2.6 percentage point increase on 2004 results and an increase of 11.2 percentage points compared with 1997. Over 67,000 more pupils are now achieving at this level than did so in 1997. We have also made good progress in the percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grade A* to C including English and mathematics, which rose from 42.6 per cent. in 2004 to 44.3 per cent. in 2005. This was the biggest annual percentage point increase since 1997.
The Department has a number of initiatives to ensure that schools receive the resources, advice and support that they need to raise attainment further at key stage 4. The key stage 3 national strategy has extended to become a full secondary national strategy for school improvement designed to raise standards, particularly in the core subjects, for all secondary school pupils. It aims to introduce excellent teaching and learning practices into every classroom through CPD, teaching materials and consultancy support. In addition, we are drawing on the expertise of successful schools and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to work in partnership with around 400 schools underperforming in value added terms.
The White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All" published in October 2005 sets out our plans to improve standards further, particularly by providing significant new incentives for schools to tailor education to the needs of every child and focus on the basics of English and mathematics.
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