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25 July 2006 : Column 1448W—continued


Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students failed to turn up for at least one examination in each of the past five years at (a) GCSE and (b) A level. [86861]

Jim Knight: The information requested on students who fail to turn up for examinations is not held centrally by the Department.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of 15-year-olds achieved (a) five or more, (b) seven or more and (c) nine or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent in each year since 1996. [87895]

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table:

Number and percentage of 15-year-old pupils( 1) achieving the following GCSEs or equivalents 5 or more A*-C grades
5 or more A*-C grades 7 or more A*-C grades 9 or more A*-C grades
Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

1996

264,537

44.5

175,509

34.1

108,277

21.0

1997

264,892

45.1

177,338

34.8

110,904

21.7

1998

266,431

46.3

178,848

35.3

111,389

22.0

1999

278,560

47.9

190,776

33.5

122,098

21.4

2000

285,727

49.2

196,402

34.7

126,502

22.4

2001

301,617

50.0

245,460

39.5

170,293

27.4

2002

312,739

51.6

255,352

40.7

179,470

28.6

2003

329,382

52.9

269,471

42.9

190,494

30.3

2004

345,604

53.7

283,863

43.8

205,144

31.6

2005

358,598

56.3

296,889

46.6

219,355

34.5

(1) Aged 15 at the start of the academic year ie 31 August.

Homophobic Bullying

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures his Department takes to ensure that homophobic bullying in (a) boarding and (b) private schools is properly addressed. [88118]

Jim Knight: All independent schools in England must be registered with my Department. All registered schools have to meet the standards set out in the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003, as amended, which cover six main areas including the quality of the education provided; the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils; and the welfare, health and safety of pupils. Schools are required to draw up and implement effectively, a written policy to prevent all kinds of bullying.

In the White Paper, “Higher Standards, Better Education for All”, we gave an undertaking to issue guidance on bullying motivated by prejudice, including homophobia, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We are currently developing a programme to tackle this issue.

Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to inform parents of the possible risks of allowing their children to use the internet unsupervised. [88802]


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Mr. Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills has for several years, through the parents online site and later from January 2005 through the parents centre site, provided advice and guidance to parents on using the internet safely with their children. This includes advice on the potential risks of using the internet unsupervised.

The Department has also funded Childnet International—a charitable organisation—to produce safety materials, and new additional materials specifically aimed at parents and for use in the home that will be available in the autumn.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to teach children about the possible risks of using the internet. [88844]

Mr. Dhanda: ICT is compulsory for pupils aged five to 16 and covers analysis, evaluation and responsible use of electronic information, including the internet.

The Department has worked closely with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and Becta, the lead agency for ICT in schools, on developing resources and guidance for schools. Schools are encouraged to integrate e-safety messages across the curriculum and implement policies and safe practices on internet use.

The Internet Proficiency Scheme was developed by the Department, QCA and Becta. Aimed at primary schools, it helps teachers educate children on staying safe on the internet. At secondary level, the Becta publication, ‘Signposts to safety’ provides advice on teaching internet safety at Key Stages 3 and 4.

IT Projects

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) start date, (b) original planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [87177]

Phil Hope: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Education and Skills. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal and external information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Life Skills

Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the introduction of life skills into the national curriculum. [87953]

Jim Knight: The national curriculum has the statutory aim of preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. In addition to this, a non statutory framework for personal, social and health education (PSHE) was introduced in 2000. PSHE presents opportunities to give pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding to lead confident, healthy and independent lives. Citizenship education
25 July 2006 : Column 1450W
which covers social and moral responsibility, political literacy and community involvement, was introduced as a statutory subject in 2002.

The Ofsted inspection framework includes an assessment of how schools are addressing learners’ personal development and well-being as well as assessing the quality of provision in schools. The impact of citizenship is being assessed by an eight year longitudinal study which the Department commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research in 2001 to carry out.

London Olympics

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to use the Olympics as a way of encouraging more women into the construction sector. [88205]

Phil Hope: In preparation for the Olympics, Construction Skills have set up a team ‘Constructing London 2012’ to identify the skills needed to deliver the Games. They are working closely with the LSC to identify training requirements and how best to attract women into the sector. In the recent White Paper “Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances”, the Government announced a £20 million per annum package to tackle the barriers many women face in the labour market. This includes a London based Train to Gain pilot project focusing on training at level 3 for occupational areas where women are under-represented. It also includes testing new recruitment and career pathways in sectors where women face barriers to the labour market.

Ministerial Meetings

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he last met his Scottish counterpart; and what subjects were discussed. [88776]

Mr. Dhanda: I have not met the Scottish Minister for Education and Young People since becoming Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

Ministerial Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times his ministerial office has been decorated in each of the last five years. [87648]

Mr. Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills decorated the ministerial office in the financial year 2004/05 only.

Modern Apprenticeships

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers in (a) West Lancashire constituency, (b) Lancashire, (c) the North West and (d) England have taken up a modern apprenticeship after completion of their GCSEs in each year since 1997. [83540]


25 July 2006 : Column 1451W

Phil Hope: The Apprenticeship programme continues to go from strength to strength with record numbers of young people participating and completion rates continuing to improve. Numbers of school leavers (i.e. 16 year olds) who have taken up an Apprenticeship in England since 2002-03 are as follows:

Apprenticeships (at level 2) Advanced Apprenticeships (at level 3) Total Apprenticeships (at levels 2 & 3)

2004-05

45,125

8,912

54,037

2003-04

43,110

9,174

52,284

2002-03

41,711

10,383

52,094


The Learning Skills Council will be able to provide further data on Apprenticeship numbers broken down by region, however they can only report on data from 2001-02 onwards as work-based learning data before this is not available in the same way. The Council’s Chief Executive Mark Haysom has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom , dated 25 July 2006:


25 July 2006 : Column 1452W
LSC funded 16-18 starts to Advanced Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships
West Lancashire Lancashire LSC area North West Region England

2002-03

288

3,810

18,867

102,643

2003-04

246

3,321

15,464

90,378

2004-05

259

3,879

18,432

102,327

Note:
Figures are based on age at the start of training. Location of a learner is linked to their home postcode.
Source:
Work Based Learning ILR, LSC July 2006

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