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27 Feb 2006 : Column 562W—continued
Non-governmental Organisation Funding
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the non-governmental organisations financially supported by her Department in the 2005–06 financial year. [53159]
Maria Eagle: The Department does not hold separate central records of non-government organisations it financially supports and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ofsted
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she has taken to reduce the costs of Ofsted inspections; and what savings have been made as a consequence. [52263]
Jacqui Smith: Changes to the new inspection processes for schools and early years provision began in September 2005. These processes are shorter, sharper and more proportionate. There is now greater emphasise on self evaluation, for example in schools where it has contributed to a significant reduction in the weight of inspection. Changes to the delivery of inspections will result in annual savings within Ofsted of some £30 million. Ofsted has made other changes to its business, most notably reducing its 12 offices to three new regional offices and streamlining its administration.
The Government are committed to further reduction in the cost of inspection. The overall aims of its inspection strategy are to refocus, rationalise and reduce inspection in order to increase its impact and cost-effectiveness.
We will be measuring efficiency gains from a range of specific initiatives which contribute to our Gershon efficiency target, including those relating to Ofsted. These are set out in our Efficiency Technical Note. In most cases, the gains are recyclable at the frontline into other activities rather than being clawed back by the
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Department. The Department is reporting progress towards our overall efficiency target through existing departmental reporting processes. We reported progress towards our target in the Department's Autumn Performance Report and will report further progress in the Departmental Annual Report which we expect to publish in April.
Online Ordering (Schools)
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to develop and maintain an online ordering catalogue for schools; and what the effect of these measures were on costs. [52046]
Maria Eagle: The Department ceased sending publications automatically to schools in England on a phased basis between April and December 2004. Discussions with head teachers and detailed research showed that schools wanted to be able to choose the printed publications they needed, when they needed them, and to be able to order multiple copies.
The online ordering system enables schools to choose whether to download electronic copies or order the paper based publications they need at the right time for them and in the multiples they require. This system is linked directly to the fulfilment service and an existing telephone ordering line. A fortnightly email service to schools informs them of new and important publications. Some initial savings have already been made through a reduction in printing costs and distribution and stock management, and further efficiencies are expected as reliance on paper hard copies diminishes.
This has resulted in schools being able to order a wider variety of publications from the Department, putting schools in direct control of what they receive, when they receive it.
Outreach Workers
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools employ dedicated home-school outreach workers, broken down by local education authority. [53575]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.
PE Teachers
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the projected numbers are of physical education teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for (i) 2006–07, (ii) 2007–08 and (iii) 2008–09. [50926]
Jacqui Smith: This information is not available in the format required, as no projections are made of physical education teachers.
In allocating numbers of teacher training places we consider a variety of factors such as recent and expected flows in and out of teaching, the age structure of the teaching profession, the latest pupil projections and expected changes in demand arising from new policy initiatives with an analysis by age, phase and (for
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secondary schools) subject. We also take account of expected wastage during training. Consideration is also given to:
the evidence of the Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey e.g. on levels of out-of-subject teaching
Pensions Liability
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total pensions liability is of the state education sector. [53123]
Jacqui Smith: The past service liabilities of the Teachers' Pension Scheme, which covers teachers and lecturers in England and Wales employed in maintained schools, Further Education institutions, post-1992 universities and some independent schools, were £119.7 billion as at 31 March 2005 (Teachers' Pension Scheme (England and Wales) Resource Accounts 2004–05).
Non-teaching staff employed in these institutions are typically members of the Local Government Pension Scheme. That scheme has 86 separate funds that are managed by individual local authorities in England and Wales. The information requested on the proportion of liabilities attributable to those employed in the education sector overall is not held centrally.
Physical Education
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of schoolchildren meet the Government's target of two hours physical education each week in schools; how many of those schools are in a school sport partnership; and how many schools responded to the school sport partnership survey. [52626]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 16 February 2006]: The Government's target is to increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport to 75 per cent. by 2006 and 85 per cent. by 2008. The annual PE, School Sport and Club Links survey collects data from schools within school sport partnerships. The 2004/05 survey found that 69 per cent. of five to 16-year-olds are participating in at least two hours high quality PE and school sport each week. Data on schools outside of school sport partnerships is not held centrally.
In total, 11,498 schools took part in the survey, representing a response rate of 95 per cent. By September 2006, all maintained schools will be within a partnership.
Post-16 Education
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school-leavers in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) England (i) remained and (ii) did not remain in education after their GCSEs in each year since 1997. [51947]
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Jacqui Smith: The percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in England at the end of 2004 was estimated to be 74.2 per cent.—the highest ever rate. Figures on participation in education by young people are not available for Parliamentary Constituencies, but are available for local authorities—including South Tyneside, and for local Learning and Skills Council areas including Tyne and Wear. These were published alongside figures for the North East and England in the Statistical First Release Participation in education and training by 16 and 17 year olds in each local area in England"—SFR11/2005 on 31 March 2005.
The publication is accessible on the DfES website via the link, http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000568/index.shtml. The specific LEA figures are available through the following link: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000568/SFR11-2005tables_lea.xls and specific local LSC figures through http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000568/SFR11-2005tables_lsc.xls.
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