Previous Section Index Home Page

21 Jan 2008 : Column 1742W—continued


Secondary Education: GCE A-Levels

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools with sixth forms submitted more than one pupil for A-Level in (a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) chemistry, (d) biology, (e) French, (f) Spanish, (g) German and (h) Mandarin in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [178451]

Jim Knight: The 2006-07 revised figures are provided as follows:

Number of secondary schools with sixth forms who submitted more than one pupil for A level Percentage of secondary schools with sixth forms who submitted more than one pupil for a level

Mathematics

2,353

92.9

Physics

2,060

81.3

Chemistry

2,202

86.9

Biology

2,270

89.6

French

1,561

61.6

Spanish

810

32.0

German

1,032

40.7

Mandarin

297

11.7


Secondary Education: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children aged 11 to 16 years (a) there were in Newcastle-upon-Tyne local education authority schools and (b) were resident in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in each year from 2004 to 2007. [178192]

Jim Knight: The information requested is set out as follows:

Local authority cross border movement of pupils resident in England
Newcastle upon Tyne local authority 2007 2006 2005 2004

Secondary( 1, 2)

Number of pupils residing in LA(3)

14,574

14,812

15,059

14,038

Number of pupils(4) attending schools maintained by the LA

14,115

14,414

14,687

13,920

Number of pupils in residence and attending schools maintained by the LA

13,316

13,565

13,820

13,054

Special( 1, 5)

Number of pupils residing in LA(3)

291

286

244

246

Number of pupils(4 )attending schools maintained by the LA

306

306

296

296

Number of pupils in residence and attending schools maintained by the LA

248

246

218

214

(1) Excludes pupils reported to be boarders.
(2) Includes; Solely registered and main registration of dually registered pupils. Pupils aged 11 to 15 as at 31 August attending local authority maintained secondary middle deemed secondary, city technology colleges and academies.
(3 )Includes pupils attending maintained schools outside the LA.
(4 )Includes unmatched records, (i.e. with missing or invalid postcodes)
(5 )Includes: Solely registered and main registration of dually registered pupils. Pupils aged 11 to 15 as at 31 August 2006 attending maintained and non-maintained special schools.

21 Jan 2008 : Column 1743W

Secondary Education: Teaching Methods

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate has been made of the cost of introducing small group tuition into secondary schools. [180467]

Jim Knight: There is no single DCSF programme of small group tuition, although there are various programmes which encourage its use, including the Every Child a Reader and Every Child Counts programmes in primary schools, and Study Plus in secondary schools.

This range of programmes and the variety and flexibility of approaches used in schools already mean that we cannot give a simple cost for small group teaching in either primary or secondary schools. However, £1.6 billion has been committed to support personalised learning over the Comprehensive spending review SR period 2008-11, building on the £990 million allocated over the last two years. This funding is designed to ensure that every school has the capacity to deliver personalised learning, including the use of smaller groups where appropriate.

Specialised Diplomas

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the equivalence between diplomas and GCSEs. [179707]

Jim Knight: On 18 December 2007, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) announced that the diplomas would be judged equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade A*-G at the foundation level, 7 GCSEs grade A*-C at the higher level and 3.5 A-levels grade A*-E at the advanced level. The equivalence given to diplomas reflects the size and challenge of completing a large composite qualification.

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing the new system of school diplomas. [180445]

Jim Knight: The estimated cost of introducing diplomas for 2008/09 is as follows:

The LSC will provide funding for 16 to 18-year-olds taking up diplomas in sixth forms and colleges based on the funding rates published on 21 December 2007 at http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/strategic-overview. These are based on an assessment of cost for each diploma line and level of learning.

The cost in subsequent years will not be known until the number of places and learners are confirmed.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish the curriculum specification for the diploma qualifications in (a) Construction and Built Environment, (b) Information Technology, (c) Creative and Media, (d) Society, Health and Development and (e) Engineering
21 Jan 2008 : Column 1744W
at the (i) Foundation Diploma level, (ii) Higher Diploma level and (iii) Advanced Diploma level. [180799]

Jim Knight: To support the delivery of Diploma learning, we have developed and published guidance in September 2007 for the first five lines of learning, at Foundation Level (level one), Higher Level (level two) and Advanced Level (level three). The purpose of publishing this guidance early at least a year before first teaching of the Diplomas is to support partnership curriculum planners and teachers in making decisions about introducing the Diploma and devising schemes of work. The following curriculum specifications have been accredited and published for first teaching in September 2008:

The guidance is available online at:

Specialised Diplomas: Finance

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what additional finance will be made available to schools for each student studying for a diploma; and if he will make a statement. [179706]

Jim Knight: An initial allocation of £26 million to cover the additional costs of diplomas in respect of pupils starting diplomas at key stage 4 in 2008/09 was notified to local authorities on 18 December 2007. The average level of funding payable per student from this source in 2008-09 will amount to £1,000.

The LSC will provide funding for 16 to 18-year-olds taking up Diplomas in sixth forms and colleges based on the funding rates published on 21 December 2007.

Further details of the funding available and the rates that apply can be accessed through the 14-19 education and skills website at

Specialist Schools: Barnet

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in Barnet have specialist status; what their specialisms are in each case; what funding was made available to each in the latest period for which figures are available; what outstanding applications for specialist status there are; and if he will make a statement. [177527]

Jim Knight: The following table shows the information requested. There are 13 maintained secondary schools in Brent local authority, all of which have specialist status. The Government remain committed to the specialist schools programme as a means of raising attainment and achievement for all secondary-age pupils.


21 Jan 2008 : Column 1745W

21 Jan 2008 : Column 1746W
School name Specialism Second specialisms Leading options Specialist school recurrent funding 2007-08 (£)

Alperton Community School

Maths and Computing

181,379

Cardinal Hinsley Mathematics and Computing College

Maths and Computing

59,985

Claremont High School

Arts

Maths and Computing

Vocational

343,989

Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College

Language

159,000

Copland—A Specialist Science Community College

Science

215,559

JFS

Humanities

223,209

John Kelly Boys’ Technology College

Technology

94,170

John Kelly Girls’ Technology College

Technology

Language

211,260

Kingsbury High School

Maths and Computing

226,653

Preston Manor High School

Science

Raising Achievement Transforming Learning

220,185

Queen’s Park Community School

Business and Enterprise

129.000

St. Gregory RC High School

Science

129,000

Wembley High Technology College

Technology

Training School

190,134


Next Section Index Home Page