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7 Mar 2006 : Column 1481W—continued
St James Independent School for Senior Boys
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 1941W, what the nature is of the investigations of the St. James Independent school for senior boys to which she refers; what the evidential basis was for the assertion that such investigations were taking place; and what steps she has taken in response to the letter to her from the headteacher of St. James dated 24 February. [56228]
Maria Eagle:
A historic allegation of abuse was received from a man in his 40s that related to his time as a school pupil in London. Following a thorough joint investigation by the police, social services, the NSPCC and Education Welfare that involved St. James
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Independent school for senior boys, no further action is being taken by the Metropolitan police. My response to the headteacher of St. James contains this information.
Sure Start
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list visits by Ministers in her Department to Sure Start schemes and facilities in England in the 12 months to 5 May 2005; in which parliamentary constituency each facility is; what the cost of each visit was; and if she will make a statement. [53482]
Maria Eagle: The following table shows the Sure Start schemes and facilities visited by each Minister in the 12 months to 5 May 2005. Records of the cost of each visit are not held in the format required and to provide this information would incur disproportionate costs.
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Teacher Development
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend the provision of services for teachers' professional development in science, mathematics, English and social sciences. [53523]
Jacqui Smith: The Training and Development Agency for Schools is responsible for monitoring the quality and coverage of continuing professional development for teachers in all curriculum subjects including social sciences. Their five year strategy sets out proposals for a challenging new CPD agenda.
Announced plans for personalised learning, as part of the recent Schools White Paper, 'Higher Standards, Better Schools For All', to ensure every child masters the basics of English and mathematics. This includes a programme of training so that every school will have access to leading teachers who are expert in catch-up in these subjects.
Launched the Science Learning Centres, a national network for professional development in the teaching of science, in partnership with The Wellcome Trust. The centres offer training focused on encouraging innovative and exciting teaching practice that will enthuse and inspire young people.
Announced the launch of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. Its aim is to improve mathematics education across all sectors by providing enhanced CPD for all teachers of mathematics. The National Centre is due to open in summer 2006.
Teachers' Pay
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she plans to issue to local education authorities concerning variations of pay agreements under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, with regard to the non-provision of childcare tax vouchers as a non-cash benefit; whether her Department plans to review this policy; and if she will make a statement. [53803]
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Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Children, Young People and Families on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2337W, on the Childcare Vouchers Scheme,". We have since conducted an informal consultation with representatives of teacher unions and employers on making provision in the statutory School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document to enable teachers to access tax-beneficial schemes, including childcare vouchers, on a salary sacrifice basis, and are currently considering the issues arising.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the (a) average pay and (b) average yearly percentage change in pay of (i) a classroom teacher on starting salary, (ii) a classroom teacher with seven years' experience, (iii) a deputy head teacher and (iv) a head teacher in each of the last 25 years at current prices. [56209]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the average salary of teachers by grade for the years 1997 to 2003 has been published annually since 1998 in the Statistics of Education, School Workforce in England, (including teachers' pay for England and Wales). Copies of these have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
University (Shrewsbury)
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to secure a university for Shrewsbury. [55151]
Bill Rammell:
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) commissioned the consultants SQW Ltd. to carry out an option appraisal to look at provision of higher education in Herefordshire, Powys
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and Shropshire and published a report in May 2005. The study undertook a comprehensive review of the actual and potential demand for higher education in the three counties and provided an appraisal of the options for meeting that demand.
As a result, HEFCE are currently working with the higher and further education institutions in the area to develop a Lifelong Learning Network (LLN) which will cover Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin which will seek to enhance existing structures and provision and create new arrangements to facilitate the progression of vocational learners into and through higher education. The LLN will undertake a fundamental role in linking the demand for learning and up-skilling with the appropriate supply of provision, through courses, qualifications and awards, at a variety of levels.
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