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27 Feb 2006 : Column 531W—continued

External Security Services

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of schools that are regularly patrolled by an external security service. [52596]

Jacqui Smith: We do not have an estimate of the number of schools using private security patrols. However, guidance on their use is contained in our Managing School Facilities Guide 4, Improving Security in Schools".

Foundation Schools

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2005,
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 532W
 
Official Report, column 1959W, on schools, how many and what proportion of foundation schools currently have a foundation. [33209]

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold this information centrally: foundation schools with a foundation are not a distinct category of schools, and so are not identified separately on the register of schools. However, based on information supplied by local authorities, we understand that 96 foundation schools have foundations, comprising around 11 per cent. of the total number of foundation schools.

Further Education

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to paragraph 54 of Priorities for Success, which courses that currently carry nine or fewer guided learning hours she plans to subsume into larger courses and fund; and from which courses of nine or fewer guided learning hours she intends to withdraw funding. [28632]

Bill Rammell: The Department has no plans to issue guidance on this matter. Individual colleges and providers will decide how to re-organise their provision in light of the funding changes to be introduced and the priorities they agree with their local Learning and Skills Council.

Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of adult further education 19 plus students in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 were (i) full-time and (ii) part-time. [53039]

Bill Rammell: In 2004/05 there were 3,477,000 learners aged 19+ in further education (FE) funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Of these learners 11 per cent. (366,000) were full-time 1 and the remaining 89 per cent. (3,111,000) part-time.

Figures for 2005/06 are not yet available as the LSC academic year which spans 1 August to 31 July has not finished. Initial estimates—based on the numbers enrolled on October 1 2005—will be published in the Statistical First Release (SFR) Further Education, Work-Based Learning for Young People and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England on 1 October 2005' by the LSC on 23 March 2006. Full-year figures for 2005/06 are likely to be published in December 2006.

Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of adult further education 19 plus students were (a) employed, (b) self-employed, (c) unemployed and (d) economically inactive in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06. [53040]

Bill Rammell: The following table shows estimates of the proportion of adult further education 19+ students who were (a) employed, (b) self-employed, (c) unemployed and (d) economically inactive in 2004–05. Data come from the Labour Force Survey, winter 2004–05.
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 533W
 

Percentage
Employed68
Self-employed7
Unemployed4
Economically inactive21




Note:
As with all sample surveys the estimates presented in this table are subject to sampling variability.




Figures in the table are based on survey responses within the period December 2004 to February 2005. Estimates for the full academic year are not available from the Labour Force Survey. However, they may differ from the snapshot presented here as they will include a higher proportion of part-time learners.

Figures for 2005–06 are not yet available. The Labour Force Survey for winter 2005–06 will be published in mid April 2006.

GCSEs

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 G. [47968]

Jacqui Smith: 2005 results show that 89 per cent. of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-G, an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared with 2004. 96.4 per cent. (nearly 614,000) pupils reached school leaving age with a pass of some kind, an increase of 0.5 percentage point on 2004.

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 for all secondary school pupils, including low attaining pupils. In addition, we are also 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.
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 534W
 

The Government's White Paper—Higher Standards, Better Schools for All—set out our commitment to an extra investment of £565 million by 2007/08 to support personalisation in primary and secondary schools, focussing particularly on helping children who have fallen behind in English and mathematics. A further £60 million will be available in each of the next two years to provide effective one-to-one and small group tuition for the lowest attaining pupils.

In the 14–19 Education and Skills White Paper we announced the introduction of specialised diplomas. These will be available to young people from age 14 and will provide a high quality, broad-based education, including functional and wider employability skills, but with a strong focus on applied learning. The first pilots will start in 2008.

We also proposed a work-focused programme to motivate 14 to 16-year-olds with relatively low attainment, who are at risk of serious disaffection, building on the lessons of the Entry to Employment programme for 16 to 19-year-olds. Pilots are to start from 2006/07.

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils in (a) each Fresh Start school achieved five or more GCSE passes in 2004–05 and (b) in each of the schools they replaced in the final year of their operation; and if she will make a statement. [48128]

Jacqui Smith: The following tables show the numbers and percentages of 15-year-olds achieving five or more passes at GCSE or equivalent level at grades A* to C and A* to G in Fresh Start schools in 2005 and in the schools they replaced in their last year of operation. The Fresh Start initiative was introduced in 1998 to help pupils in schools which were facing intractable problems. Overall the initiative has been a success. The majority of Fresh Start schools have had successful Ofsted inspections.

The National Audit Office in their report Improving poorly performing schools in England" (January 2006) found that the nine secondary Fresh Start schools


2005 GCSE results for Fresh Start schools and their predecessor schools in their last year of operation

2005





New school name
Number of 15-year-old pupils(118) Number of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE and equivalentPercentage of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-C including GCSE equivalents Former
school(s) name
Last operational year Number of 15-year-old pupils(118) Number of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE/GNVQPercentage of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-C including GCSE/GNVQ
All Saints College1465840Firfield1998000
Blakelaw19986147
Fir Vale School1325239Earl Marshal School199892910
The King's CE School1425237Regis County19981293829
Park View Academy22410446The Langham19981772313
Islington Arts and Media1355944George Orwell School1999901618
Kingswood High School1858345Perronet Thompson School1999168138
New College Leicester2522610New Parks Community College19991271713
Bishopsford Community School1593321Watermeads High School19991081413
River Leen School1504429Alderman Derbyshire School19991001111
Kings High School852226Kingsleigh200077810
Corby Community College1492819Queen Elizabeth20009278
Beanfield20008678
Parkwood High School1163833Herries2000991414
Kings College1226150Kings Manor200079810
Highcrest Community School903640Hatters Lane School2001671522
The Hadden Park High School1794233Glaisdale200113386
Hinde House1755632Bracken Hill2002n/an/an/a
Jubilee High School922830Abbeylands School2002992525
Gateway Community2042512Torrells20031183631
St. Chads2003991010
Rushall Community691217Manor Farm Community School20031021515




Note:
Hinde House is an all through 3–16 school with GCSE results but Bracken Hill was a primary school.





 
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2005
New school name Number of 15-year-old pupils(118) Number of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-G at GCSE and equivalentPercentage of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-G including GCSE equivalents Former
school(s) name
Last operational year Number of 15-year-old pupils(118) Number of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-G at GCSE/GNVQPercentage of 15-year-olds achieving 5+ A*-G including GCSE/GNVQ
All Saints College1469464Firfield1998000
Blakelaw1998613659
Fir Vale School1322292Earl Marshal School1998927379
The King's CE School1422789Regis County199812911791
Park View Academy22418482The Langham199817711764
Islington Arts and Media13510679George Orwell School1999906774
Kingswood High School18514176Perronet Thompson School199916811770
New College Leicester25214558New Parks Community College19991277156
Bishopsford Community School15913887Watermeads High School19991088377
River Leen School15010268Alderman Derbyshire School19991008181
Kings High School857184Kingsleigh2000775166
Corby Community College1498960Queen Elizabeth2000926368
Beanfield2000865564
Parkwood High School1169481Herries2000997778
Kings College1229477Kings Manor2000796481
Highcrest Community School908594Hatters Lane School2001675785
The Hadden Park High School17911363Glaisdale20011336650
Hinde House17514885Bracken Hill2002n/an/an/a
Jubilee High School927177Abbeylands School2002997778
Gateway Community20415074Torrells200311810085
St. Chads2003996465
Rushall Community693449Manor Farm Cornmunity School20031027170


(118) Age calculated at start of academic year.
Note:
Hinde House is an all through 3–16 school with GCSE results but Bracken Hill was a primary school.





 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 537W
 

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students in maintained schools gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C in each year since 1995. [52597]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested can be found in the following table. Figures for all schools have been provided for comparison.
Percentage of 15-year-old pupils(119) achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent(120) at grades A*-C in each year since 1994/95(121)

Academic yearAll maintained schools(122) All schools
1994/9540.243.5
1995/9641.544.5
1996/9742.245.1
1997/9843.546.3
1998/9945.347.9
1999/200046.749.2
2000/0147.550.0
2001/0249.151.6
2002/0350.752.9
2003/0451.553.7
2004/0554.256.3


(119) Age at start of academic year i.e. 31 August.
(120) Figures from 1994/95 to 2002/03 include GCSEs/GNVQs. Figures from 2003/04 include GCSE and other equivalent qualifications approved pre-16.
(121) Includes achievements for these pupils in previous academic years.
(122) Including community and foundation special schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.


Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 1133W, on examination results, how many and what proportion of pupils who achieved any five A* to C grades at GCSE or equivalent including a full intermediate GNVQ would have achieved this level even if they had not taken the GNVQ. [52607]

Jacqui Smith: Revised figures for 2005 (further to the answer of the 7 February 2006) show that of the 636,796 15-year-old 1 pupils on roll in 2005, 8.7 percent. achieved 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent including a full intermediate GNVQ. Of the 358,413 pupils who achieved any 5+ A*-C grades in 2005, 15.4 percent. achieved this level including a full intermediate GNVQ.

Of the 55,244 15-year-old pupils who achieved 5+ A* to C grades at GCSE or equivalent including a full intermediate GNVQ 33,445 (60.5 percent.) would still have achieved this level even if they had not taken the GNVQ.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 15-year-olds (a) sat and (b) obtained a GCSE at A*-C in a foreign language in each year since 2000, broken down by local educational authority. [39509]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on modern foreign language results at local authority level has been placed in the House Library.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of 15-year-olds achieved one or more GCSE at grades A* to C in each year since 1996. [47048]


 
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Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of 15-year-olds achieving at least one GCSE or equivalent grade A*-C can be found as follows.
15-year-old pupils(123) achieving 1+ A*-C grade GCSEor equivalent(124)

NumberPercentage
1996417,14870.2
1997413,85970.5
1998410,46971.4
1999421,59072.6
2000427,27273.6
2001446,61974.0
2002456,07475.2
2003470,48175.6
2004488,11275.8
2005493,57577.5


(123) Pupils on roll aged 15 at the start of the academic year
(124) From 1997 includes GNVQ equivalencies and from 2004 equivalencies approved for use pre 16


Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will list the local education authorities where fewer than 90 per cent. of 15-year-olds attained five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A* to G in 2004–05; [47052]

(2) if she will list the local education authorities where fewer than 90 per cent. of 15-year-olds were entered for five or more GCSEs or equivalent in 2004–05; [47051]

(3) if she will list the local education authorities where fewer than 90 per cent. of 15-year-olds attained five or more GCSEs or equivalent including English and mathematics at grades A* to G in 2004–05; [47050]

(4) if she will list the local education authorities where fewer than 75 per cent. of 15-year-olds attained one or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A* to C in 2004–05. [47047]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of 15 year olds were entered for qualifications equivalent to five or more GCSEs in each year since 1996. [47053]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of 15-year-olds entered for at least five GCSE or equivalent can be found as follows.
15-year-old pupils(125) entered for 5+ GCSEs or equivalent(126)

NumberPercentage
1996530,30489.3
1997525,57289.6
1998515,40189.6
1999525,07790.4
2000527,13290.8
2001547,81290.8
2002552,71991.1
2003568,64391.4
2004594,67992.4
2005589,41092.6


(125) Pupils on roll aged 15 at the start of the academic year.
(126) From 1997 includes GNVQ equivalencies and from 2004 equivalencies approved for use pre 16.



 
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Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in Peterborough achieved five or more A*-C grades at GCSE in 2005. [53481]

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested are shown in the following table.
15-year-olds pupils(127) achieving 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE and equivalent, 2005

Maintained schools onlyNumberPercentage
Parliamentary constituency of Peterborough(128)72654.2
City of Peterborough local authority1,15453.5


(127) Age at the start of the academic year (i.e. 31 August)
(128) Pupils attending schools located in Peterborough constituency



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