House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Feb 2006 (pt 66)

6 Feb 2006 : Column 1007W—continued

Head Teachers

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage teachers to take the National Professional Qualification for Headship. [47372]

Jacqui Smith: The NPQH is mandatory for all aspirant head teachers wishing to take up their first headship posts in LEA maintained, and non-maintained special, schools. The success of the programme is evidenced by the increasing numbers coming forward to undertake it.

The National College for School Leadership works closely with its regional providers to target potential applicants, and advertises widely nationally and regionally during the application rounds.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of headmasters who lead more than one school. [47367]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

Home Tutors

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) to what regulations home tutors are subject; [44283]

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(2) whether an individual who has been convicted of a sexual offence may work as a home tutor; and if she will make a statement. [44286]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 20 January 2006]: Where an individual is barred from working with children under section 142 of the Education Act 2002 on the grounds that he or she is unsuitable to work with children", it is a criminal offence to work or seek work in any position that includes training or being in sole charge of a child or children. A person guilty of this offence is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for up to six months and/or a fine and, on indictment, to imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine.

The Department would strongly advise parents to verify the credentials of any person employed to provide private tuition for a child, particularly if that person is likely to be alone with the child at any time. For example, parents could ask prospective tutors for references from a recent employer.

The Department is fully aware that parents currently have limited access to information. The new scheme to be implemented as part of the Bichard Inquiry Recommendations will allow parents to access relevant information on people they wish to employ as home tutors.

I made clear in my statement to the House on 12 January, we are committed to implementing Sir Michael Bichard's recommendations to tighten the system of vetting and barring people who wish to work with children and that will entail the ability for parents to check whether tutors, nannies, and other individuals whom they employ, are barred or disqualified.

Independent Schools

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total annual financial saving is to independent schools as a result of their charitable status. [47763]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.

Independent schools, along with other charities, benefit from a range of tax exemptions on trading profits, rental income, investment income and business rates, as well as certain reliefs from VAT. Those registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are also able to reclaim Gift Aid on qualifying donations. Using Gift Aid, the charity is able to reclaim 28 pence for every £1 donated.

It is not possible to ascertain the amount of these reliefs because HMRC records do not distinguish amounts repaid to or claimed by charities according to type of charity.

India

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department has taken to help educational establishments in the UK and India establish lasting partnerships since the 2002 New Delhi Declaration. [48393]

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Bill Rammell: Last September, on a visit to Delhi, the Prime Minister announced a major £10 million initiative spread over five years, aimed at re-vitalising educational links between institutions in the UK and India. The development of sustainable, long-term partnerships between institutions will be key to the success of this initiative. My Department, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council, is leading on designing the shape of the new initiative which will begin this April. This design work is continuing and I expect to be in a position to announce more details of the scheme next month.

International Students

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment her Department has made of the contribution of international students to the UK economy; [48599]

(2) what assessment she has made of how many international students engaged in part-time employment during their time in the United Kingdom; [48600]

(3) what steps her Department is taking to encourage international students to attend UK universities. [48602]

Bill Rammell: A study commissioned by the British Council in 2004 into the Global Value of UK Education and Training Exports estimated that international students contribute some £5 billion a year to the UK economy. Since 1999, my Department has taken steps to increase the number of international students in UK higher education through the Prime Minister's Initiative (PMI). A key element of the PMI is a worldwide marketing campaign to promote the credentials of UK education overseas. We expect to launch a second phase of the PMI in April. Information on the number of international students working part-time whilst in the UK is not available.

Media Coverage

Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what analysis her Department has conducted of print and broadcast media coverage of her in the past 12 months. [47927]

Bill Rammell: The Department does not conduct analysis of media coverage of the Secretary of State.

New Secondary School (Ruislip)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment was made by

6 Feb 2006 : Column 1010W

her Department of the impact on other secondary schools in the London borough of Hillingdon of the decision to allow the creation of the planned new secondary school in Ruislip; [47065]

(2) what action she has taken to verify the planning predictions of pupil numbers used by the London borough of Hillingdon in its case for the construction of the planned new secondary school in Ruislip. [47068]

Jacqui Smith: The Department relies on local authorities to ensure, in their planning, that the provision of school places matches existing and forecast demand. This is because local authorities are in the best position to assess requirements. With respect to Hillingdon council, this should include the creation of the planned new secondary school in Ruislip.

Nursery Places

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) three and (b) four-year-olds whose parents had requested a nursery place did not have one allocated to them in each of the last five years. [48257]

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not collected centrally.

All four-year-olds have been entitled to a free early education place since 1998 and from April 2004 this entitlement was extended to all three-year-olds. The free entitlement consists of a minimum of five two and a half hour sessions per week for 33 weeks of the year for six terms before statutory school age, which is the term following their fifth birthday.

Some local authorities may additionally offer subsidised child care places but this information is not collected centrally.

Figures for January 2005 show that all four-year-old children are benefiting from some free provision. The figure for three-years-olds is 96 per cent. This covers all maintained, private, voluntary and independent providers and represents 535,100 three-year-olds and 568,300 four-year-olds.

The available information on the number of three and four-year-old children taking up nursery education places in England is shown in the tables.

The latest figures on nursery education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 43/2005 Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2005 (final)" in September, which is available on my Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/
Table 1: Number of three-year-olds taking up nursery education places⁽⁵⁸⁾⁽⁵⁸⁾⁽⁶⁰⁾ by type of early years provider—England 2001–05

Position in January each year

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Private and voluntary providers⁽⁶¹⁾

Number 285,100 283,200 ⁽⁶²⁾321,500 ⁽⁶²⁾330,300 ⁽⁶²⁾327,000

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ 47 48 56 59 59

Number taking up free places ⁽⁶⁴⁾116,900 ⁽⁶⁴⁾184,600 (7) ⁽⁶²⁾⁽⁶³⁾264,500 ⁽⁶⁴⁾288,400 ⁽⁶⁴⁾302,000

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ 19 31 46 51 54

Independent schools⁽⁶⁵⁾

Number 27,200 27,400 26,800 26,200 24,800

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ 5 5 5 5 4

Number taking up free places ⁽⁶⁴⁾6,100 ⁽⁶⁴⁾10,700 ⁽⁶²⁾⁽⁶³⁾16,100 ⁽⁶⁴⁾15,800 ⁽⁶⁴⁾17,300

Percentage of population (6) 1 2 3 3 3

Maintained nursery and primary schools

Number 226,800 223,500 218,700 215,300 214,300

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ 38 38 38 38 38

Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools

Number n/a 222,000 216,200 212,000 209,500

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ n/a 37 37 33 38

Infant classes in primary schools⁽⁶⁶⁾

Number n/a 1,600 2,500 3,300 4,800

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ n/a — — 1 1

Special schools10,11

Number 2,300 2,100 1,900 1,700 1,600

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ — — — — —

All providers⁽⁵⁸⁾⁽⁵⁹⁾

Number 541,100 536,300 ⁽⁶²⁾568,900 ⁽⁶²⁾573,500 ⁽⁶²⁾567,600

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ 90 90 98 102 102

Number taking up free places 351,900 421,000 ⁽⁶²⁾⁽⁶³⁾501,200 ⁽⁶⁴⁾521,200 ⁽⁶⁴⁾535,100

Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾ 59 71 87 93 96

n/a=not available.
—=less than 0.5 per cent.
⁽⁵⁸⁾ Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest hundred.
⁽⁵⁹⁾ Numbers of three-year-olds in schools may include some two-year-olds.
⁽⁶⁰⁾ Any child attending more than one provider may have been counted twice.
⁽⁶¹⁾ Includes some local authority providers (other than schools) registered to receive Nursery Education Grants; excludes independent schools and providers not registered to receive Nursery Education Grants.
⁽⁶²⁾ Scaled up from the data returned for the Early Years Census exercise to all providers of early years education.
⁽⁶³⁾ Numbers of three-year-olds taking up places expressed as a percentage of the three-year-old population.
⁽⁶⁴⁾ Providers returned the number of places for three-year-olds for which they had received or expected to receive funding.
⁽⁶⁵⁾ Includes direct grant nursery schools and city academies.
⁽⁶⁶⁾ Includes reception and other classes not designated as nursery classes.
⁽⁶⁷⁾ ⁰ Includes general hospital schools.
⁽⁶⁸⁾⁽⁶⁹⁾ Excludes pupils who are also registered elsewhere.
⁽⁷⁰⁾⁽⁷¹⁾ Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in totals.

6 Feb 2006 : Column 1011W

	Position in January each year
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Private and voluntary providers⁽⁶¹⁾
Number	285,100	283,200	⁽⁶²⁾321,500	⁽⁶²⁾330,300	⁽⁶²⁾327,000
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	47	48	56	59	59
Number taking up free places	⁽⁶⁴⁾116,900	⁽⁶⁴⁾184,600 (7)	⁽⁶²⁾⁽⁶³⁾264,500	⁽⁶⁴⁾288,400	⁽⁶⁴⁾302,000
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	19	31	46	51	54

Independent schools⁽⁶⁵⁾
Number	27,200	27,400	26,800	26,200	24,800
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	5	5	5	5	4
Number taking up free places	⁽⁶⁴⁾6,100	⁽⁶⁴⁾10,700	⁽⁶²⁾⁽⁶³⁾16,100	⁽⁶⁴⁾15,800	⁽⁶⁴⁾17,300
Percentage of population (6)	1	2	3	3	3
Maintained nursery and primary schools
Number	226,800	223,500	218,700	215,300	214,300
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	38	38	38	38	38

Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools
Number	n/a	222,000	216,200	212,000	209,500
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	n/a	37	37	33	38

Infant classes in primary schools⁽⁶⁶⁾
Number	n/a	1,600	2,500	3,300	4,800
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	n/a	—	—	1	1

Special schools10,11
Number	2,300	2,100	1,900	1,700	1,600
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	—	—	—	—	—

All providers⁽⁵⁸⁾⁽⁵⁹⁾
Number	541,100	536,300	⁽⁶²⁾568,900	⁽⁶²⁾573,500	⁽⁶²⁾567,600
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	90	90	98	102	102
Number taking up free places	351,900	421,000	⁽⁶²⁾⁽⁶³⁾501,200	⁽⁶⁴⁾521,200	⁽⁶⁴⁾535,100
Percentage of population⁽⁶³⁾	59	71	87	93	96

Table 2: Number of four-year-olds taking up nursery education places⁽⁷¹⁾⁽⁷¹⁾ by type of early years provider—England 2001–05

Position in January each year

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Private and voluntary providers⁽⁷³⁾

Number 101,100 96,500 ⁽⁷⁴⁾107,100 ⁽⁷⁴⁾115,100 ⁽⁷⁴⁾105,900

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 17 16 18 20 19

Number taking up free places ⁽⁷⁶⁾91,300 ⁽⁷⁶⁾89,500 ⁽⁷⁴⁾⁽⁷⁵⁾100,600 ⁽⁷⁶⁾100,100 ⁽⁷⁶⁾94,700

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 15 15 17 17 17

Independent schools⁽⁷⁷⁾

Number 28,300 29,400 29,000 28,500 27,200

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 5 5 5 5 5

Number taking up free places ⁽⁷⁶⁾21,200 ⁽⁷⁶⁾21,200 ⁽⁷⁴⁾⁽⁷⁵⁾24,400 ⁽⁷⁶⁾22,600 ⁽⁷⁶⁾21,900

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 3 4 4 4 4

Maintained nursery and primary schools

Number 482,800 477,700 472,200 461,100 449,500

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 79 80 80 80 80

Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools

Number n/a 119,400 115,100 108,200 102,800

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ n/a 20 19 19 18

Infant classes in primary schools⁽⁷⁸⁾

Number n/a 358,300 357,000 352,900 346,700

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ n/a 60 60 61 62

Special schools9,10

Number 2,700 2,700 2,500 2,400 2,100

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ — — — — —

All providers⁽⁷¹⁾⁽⁷²⁾

Number 614,900 606,300 ⁽⁷⁴⁾610,800 ⁽⁷⁴⁾607,100 ⁽⁷⁴⁾584,700

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 101 101 103 105 104

Number taking up free places 598,000 591,100 ⁽⁷⁴⁾⁽⁷⁵⁾599,700 ⁽⁷⁶⁾586,300 ⁽⁷⁶⁾568,300

Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾ 98 98 101 101 101

n/a=not available.
—=less than 0.5 per cent.
Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest hundred.
⁽⁷²⁾ Any child attending more than one provider may have been counted twice.
⁽⁷³⁾ Includes some local authority providers (other than schools) registered to receive nursery education grants; excludes independent schools and providers not registered to receive nursery education grants.
⁽⁷⁴⁾ Scaled up from the data returned for the Early Years Census exercise to all providers of early years education.
⁽⁷⁵⁾ Numbers of four-year-olds taking up places expressed as a percentage of the four-year-old population.
⁽⁷⁶⁾ Providers returned the number of places for four-year-olds for which they had received or expected to receive funding.
⁽⁷⁷⁾ Includes direct grant nursery schools and city academies.
⁽⁷⁸⁾ Includes reception and other classes not designated as nursery classes.
⁽⁷⁹⁾ Includes general hospital schools.
⁽⁸⁰⁾ ⁰ Excludes pupils who are also registered elsewhere.
⁽⁸¹⁾⁽⁸²⁾ Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in totals.

6 Feb 2006 : Column 1013W

	Position in January each year
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Private and voluntary providers⁽⁷³⁾
Number	101,100	96,500	⁽⁷⁴⁾107,100	⁽⁷⁴⁾115,100	⁽⁷⁴⁾105,900
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	17	16	18	20	19
Number taking up free places	⁽⁷⁶⁾91,300	⁽⁷⁶⁾89,500	⁽⁷⁴⁾⁽⁷⁵⁾100,600	⁽⁷⁶⁾100,100	⁽⁷⁶⁾94,700
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	15	15	17	17	17

Independent schools⁽⁷⁷⁾
Number	28,300	29,400	29,000	28,500	27,200
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	5	5	5	5	5
Number taking up free places	⁽⁷⁶⁾21,200	⁽⁷⁶⁾21,200	⁽⁷⁴⁾⁽⁷⁵⁾24,400	⁽⁷⁶⁾22,600	⁽⁷⁶⁾21,900
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	3	4	4	4	4

Maintained nursery and primary schools
Number	482,800	477,700	472,200	461,100	449,500
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	79	80	80	80	80

Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools
Number	n/a	119,400	115,100	108,200	102,800
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	n/a	20	19	19	18

Infant classes in primary schools⁽⁷⁸⁾
Number	n/a	358,300	357,000	352,900	346,700
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	n/a	60	60	61	62

Special schools9,10
Number	2,700	2,700	2,500	2,400	2,100
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	—	—	—	—	—
All providers⁽⁷¹⁾⁽⁷²⁾
Number	614,900	606,300	⁽⁷⁴⁾610,800	⁽⁷⁴⁾607,100	⁽⁷⁴⁾584,700
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	101	101	103	105	104
Number taking up free places	598,000	591,100	⁽⁷⁴⁾⁽⁷⁵⁾599,700	⁽⁷⁶⁾586,300	⁽⁷⁶⁾568,300
Percentage of population⁽⁷⁵⁾	98	98	101	101	101

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