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24 Apr 2006 : Column 944W—continued

Education Maintenance Allowance

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in Easington constituency are in receipt of the education maintenance allowance. [63372]

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate education maintenance allowances for the DfES and hold the information about take-up of the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 19 April 2006:


 
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Educational Standards

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of progress made by schools in (a) deprived areas and (b) affluent areas in raising educational standards since 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [41212]

Jacqui Smith: We have seen significant progress in the narrowing of the attainment gap at GCSE between schools in deprived and affluent areas, compared with the situation in 1996–97. The Excellence in Cities (EiC) programme and excellence clusters were introduced in 1999 and 2000, respectively, to target areas of significant deprivation. Between 2001, the year in which the 3rd phase of EiC began, and 2005, the percentage of pupils
 
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achieving 5+A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ and equivalents in EiC areas increased by nearly 10 percentage points, rising from 39.8 percentage in 2001, to 49.4 percent (provisional) in 2005. The rate of improvement in non-EiC schools over the same period was around 5percentage points, rising from 52.2 per cent. in 2001 to 57 percent (provisional) in 2005.

As shown in the following table, performance data also indicate that the schools with the highest proportions of disadvantaged pupils, as assessed by free school meal (FSM) entitlement, have made more improvement than those with the lowest proportions. This improvement is evident, both at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 in English and Maths; and at GCSE/GNVQ.
Improvements in attainment made by low and high FSM schools between 1996 and 2004 across key stage tests

Schools with Low FSMImprovement in attainment between 1996–2004 (percentage)Schools with High FSMImprovement in attainment between 1996–2004 (percentage)
KS2 English L4+ threshold8% or less pupils eligible for FSM1450% or more pupils eligible for FSM28
KS2 Maths L4+ threshold8% or less pupils eligible for FSM1450% or more pupils eligible for FSM28
KS3 English L5+ threshold5% or less pupils eligible for FSM1050% or more pupils eligible for FSM19
KS3 Maths L5+ threshold5% or less pupils eligible for FSM1050% or more pupils eligible for FSM27
GCSE/GNVQ 5+ A*–C threshold5% or less pupils eligible for FSM550% or more pupils eligible for FSM15

Employer Training Pilots

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2006, Official Report, column 995W, on employer training pilots, which organisations from the (a) private and (b) public sector with over 250 staff participated in the employer training pilots in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and how many trainees in each sector took part in the pilots in each year. [59859]

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department, but is collected by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, LSC chief executive, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 13 April 2006:


Employer typeEmployeesEmployersLearners
2004
Private80,338
1 to 497,17834,391
50 to 2492,10725,034
250 or greater1,37120,913
Public13,277
1 to 496903,154
50 to 2492501,786
250 or greater4338,337
2005
Private89,972
1 to 497,82834,435
50 to 2492,48326,568
250 or greater1,75528,969
Public15,878
1 to 497102,627
50 to 2492812,562
250 or greater55010,689

Head Teachers/Principals

Ms Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacancies there were on average for headteacher positions in (a) Kingston upon Hull and (b) Hull, North constituency in each year since 1997. [64105]

Jacqui Smith: The following table gives the number of full-time head teacher vacancies in maintained schools in The City of Kingston Upon Hull local authority and England, in each January 1997 to 2005, the latest information available.

Information on teacher vacancies is not available at constituency level.
Full-time head teacher vacancies(33) in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, January 1997 to 2005

Local authority
City of Kingston upon Hull(34) England
19970180
19981250
19991250
20000230
20010190
20020170
20031130
20040120
20050170


(33)Advertised vacancies for permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration). Posts filled by somebody on a contract of a term or more are not counted as being vacant.
(34)England figures have been provided to help put local authority figures into perspective.
Figures for England are rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
DfES annual survey of teacher numbers and vacancies, 618g




 
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John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether (a) the Government or (b) local education authorities can direct a school governing body to dismiss a head teacher. [64461]

Jacqui Smith: In almost all circumstances the dismissal of a head teacher is a matter for the governing body of the school. However, in exceptional circumstances, there is limited scope for this decision to be taken in conjunction with the local authority, or at their suggestion. This may happen when the school's delegated budget has been suspended or it is determined that the head teacher has failed to secure the National Professional Qualification for Headship within set limits. Additionally, in the most extreme circumstances the Government can become directly involved. Where it can be clearly shown that a governing body has acted illegally in not dismissing a head teacher, the Secretary of State has the power under Section 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996 to intervene and direct the Governing Body to dismiss the head teacher.

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether primary legislation will be needed in order for learning and skills councils to direct a governing body of a further education college to dismiss the principal. [64457]

Bill Rammell: Yes. This power does not currently exist. We plan to bring forward legislation to give the Learning and Skills Council powers to do this.


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