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21 Jun 2007 : Column 2006W—continued


Foundation Degrees

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of employers involved in foundation degrees were in the public sector in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many students studied for such degrees with public sector employers in each year. [142157]

Bill Rammell: We do not classify foundation degrees as public or private sector because students are recorded according to subjects studied and many courses would apply to the public, private and third sectors. Foundation degrees graduates are, however, well-represented in education, and subjects allied to medicine (which together amount to around 35 per cent. of all FD graduates) where the employment opportunities are largely in the public sector, and around a third of all FD courses currently running are in the areas of education, health and care, community or public services.

Employer involvement is an essential feature of all foundation degree programmes. Employers can be involved in the design, delivery and regular review of programmes. It is also expected that there will be recognition from employer bodies such as sector skills councils and professional bodies as well as close collaboration between employer and provider institutions—to ensure foundation degrees are responsive to meeting the nation's skill needs.

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many foundation degrees were awarded in each employment sector in each of the last five years. [142158]

Bill Rammell: The available information shows the number of Foundation Degrees awarded by subject area of study. The latest figures are shown in the table; comparable information for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.


21 Jun 2007 : Column 2007W
Number of students( 1) awarded Foundation Degrees by subject area English Higher Education Institutions—Academic years 2002/03 to 2005/06
Subject area 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06

Subjects allied to medicine

65

270

405

775

Biological sciences

45

85

110

235

Veterinary science

10

0

0

0

Agriculture and related subjects

20

145

255

425

Physical sciences

25

30

50

80

Mathematical sciences

5

0

0

0

Computer science

20

125

370

680

Engineering and technology

140

250

400

525

Architecture, building and planning

15

20

50

165

Social studies

70

350

700

720

Law

0

10

15

40

Business and administrative studies

220

385

745

1,110

Mass communications and documentation

35

85

150

230

Languages

0

20

15

15

Historical and philosophical studies

0

0

0

10

Creative arts and design

285

640

980

1,480

Education

110

445

1,385

2,325

Combined

0

0

0

5

Total foundation degree qualifiers

1,060

2,855

5,635

8,820

(1) Covers students on full-time and part-time modes of study.
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Free School Meals

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of children qualifying for free school meals had (a) one parent, (b) two parents and (c) neither parent in paid work in each year for which figures are available. [141691]

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children selected by aptitude to attend (a) city academies and (b) specialist schools are in receipt of free school meals. [141745]

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

The following table shows the number and percentage of pupils in academies and specialist schools known to be eligible for free school meals.


21 Jun 2007 : Column 2008W
Maintained secondary schools and academies( 1) : number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals: As at January 2007 (Provisional): England
Number of pupils on roll( 2) Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals( 2) Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

Maintained secondary schools

3,273,520

429,930

13.1

of which:

Specialist schools

2,782,620

345,050

12.4

Academies

40,810

13,610

33.3

(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.
(2 )Includes pupils with sole and dual main registration.
Note:
Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
School Census

Further Education: Student Wastage

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in further education in each of the regions failed to complete their course in the last 12 months; and how many of those were in the final year of their course. [132186]

Bill Rammell: Non-completion is not a standard measure used in further education (FE). The standard measure of success used in FE is the success rate, which refers to the proportion of qualifications achieved in each academic year against those who start working towards a particular learning aim. Learners who transfer to alternative provision during their programme of study are excluded from the calculation. The following table shows the regional success rates for 2002/03 to 2005/06—the latest full year for all FE funded courses.

FE success rates by region
Percentage
Region 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06

East Midlands

69

73

74

76

East of England

67

70

72

75

Greater London

64

67

73

77

North East

68

72

76

77

North West

68

72

75

76

South East

70

73

74

76

South West

68

73

75

76

West Midlands

66

71

75

77

Yorkshire and Humberside

67

71

73

75

England

67

71

74

76


The concept of learners on their final year of a course is also non-standard and is complex to derive and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Further Mathematics

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are studying further mathematics A or AS level via the further
21 Jun 2007 : Column 2009W
mathematics network in (a) West Sussex and (b) England. [135179]

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold information on the subjects being studied by students at A level. However, data from examination awarding bodies show that 121 students aged 16-18 were entered for GCE A level further mathematics in West Sussex institutions in 2005/06. The number of entrants in England was 6,516. Equivalent figures for GCE AS level entries in further mathematics in 2005/06 were 60 in West Sussex and 4,078 in England. The data do not show how many of these were via the further mathematics network.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many students were entered for A level further mathematics examinations in each year since 1997; [135180]

(2) how many students were entered for further mathematics A level in each year since 1997. [135696]

Jim Knight: The figures requested are in the following table.

Table 1: GCE A level entries in further mathematics by candidates aged 16-18 in all schools and colleges
Academic year ending Number of entries

2006

6,516

2005

5,192

2004

5,111

2003

4,730

2002

4,498

2001

5,063

2000

5,015

1999

5,145

1998

5,211

1997

4,999

1996

4,913


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