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4 Feb 2008 : Column 908W—continued
School Safety
22. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to make schools safer for children since 1997. [183701]
Kevin Brennan: The protection of children is our unequivocal first priority.
Through the Education Act 2002 we legislated to put a duty on schools to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. And we have introduced important safeguards to prevent unsuitable people working with children in schools. We are introducing changes to ensure we have the toughest ever vetting and barring system. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 will deliver the first centralised vetting and barring system for all those working with children and vulnerable adults.
Ahead of this legislation being implemented, we have tightened up the current system, so that anyone cautioned or convicted for sexual offences against children after 28 February 2007 is automatically entered on List 99 and barred from working in schools and other education settings. This applies to anyone aged 18 or over who is convicted of, or cautioned for, a relevant offence regardless of whether there is evidence that they have been in previous employment in the education and children's work force.
Alcohol: Education
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure that young people receive appropriate education about alcohol abuse. [183696]
Kevin Brennan: I know this is an important issue for my hon. Friend, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the murder of her constituent Mr. Garry Newlove. I think we all share in the sadness that has resulted from this horrendous crime. I was pleased to hear that the three perpetrators have now been convicted of Mr. Newlove's murder.
We are committed to reducing substance misuse among young people particularly that associated with alcohol misuse. My hon. Friend will know from a previous written reply that alcohol education is delivered alongside that on drugs and volatile substances and is a vital element of our approach. DCSF guidance is clear that pupils' education about alcohol and its effects should start in primary school, before drinking patterns become established and should be revisited as pupils' understanding and experience increases.
We are clear of the need to be sure that alcohol education in schools is robust, accurate and effective. As part of the Children's Plan we have given a commitment to examine the effectiveness of current delivery arrangements for all drugs education—including alcohol—and act to strengthen them if necessary.
Academies
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has (a) completed and (b) commissioned on the effects of academies on neighbouring schools; and if he will make a statement. [173242]
Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) commissioned a five-year independent evaluation of the academies programme by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2003. The aim of the evaluation is to assess the overall effectiveness of the programme in terms of its contribution to educational standards, including the impact of academies on neighbouring schools. The first four reports have already been published and the fifth and final report will be published in summer 2008.
In its report on the academies programme published in February 2007, the National Audit Office found that academies do not appear to impact unfairly on the performance of neighbouring schools.
Academies: Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children attending Bexley Business Academy are resident in the (a) London borough of Bexley and (b) London borough of Greenwich. [178082]
Jim Knight: 60.7 per cent. of pupils on roll at the Business Academy at Bexley live in the London borough of Bexley and 37.5 per cent. live in the London borough of Greenwich.
Academies: Environment Protection
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many academies have (a) sought and (b) been awarded eco-schools status. [166583]
Jim Knight: The Department does not hold this information.
Academies: Sponsorship
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance exists to determine the suitability of entities which sponsor academy schools; and if he will make a statement. [172745]
Jim Knight: The Department carries out rigorous checks to establish the suitability of individuals and organisations to become sponsors of academies. These include checking their financial viability to supply any funds pledged as well as their general suitability.
Ministers will make the final decision on whether to accept or reject sponsorship.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Enfield
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in Enfield North have been rebuilt or improved under the Building Schools for the Future initiative over the last 10 years. [178808]
Jim Knight:
Enfield has not yet entered the Building Schools for the Future programme, which aims to renew all secondary schools in England where there is need, in 15 waves of investment which started in 2005-06. We have now announced the first six waves,
which are prioritised on educational and social need. Enfield is prioritised in waves seven to nine of the programme which can access funding from 2011-12. We aim shortly to consult on the management of waves seven to 15.
In 2007, we gathered information from all authorities on the improvements to their school buildings over the previous 10 years. This “School Building Investment Data” is available in the parliamentary Libraries. The information supplied by Enfield included that it had built six new schools, four of which were additional schools, and had rebuilt over 50 per cent. of the floor area of a further three schools.
Buildings Schools for the Future Programme: Kent
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much money will be made available to Kent county council through the Building Schools for the Future programme; over what period is it to be spent; and what criteria have been set for the way it is to be used. [183064]
Jim Knight: Building Schools for the Future aims to renew all secondary schools in England where there is need, in 15 waves of investment which started in 2005-06, including those in Kent. The first Kent project has been prioritised in wave three, and approximately £240 million has already been allocated to it. This funding will be used to transform 10 schools, improving the learning environments for thousands of young people. Kent is also prioritised in wave four, but the project is not yet sufficiently progressed for funding to be allocated. It will have further projects in later waves, prioritised on social and educational need.
For these waves and for subsequent ones, Kent will need to demonstrate how the investment will be deployed to meet its education vision and its strategy for the estate. The Strategy for Change process ensures that all local authorities can deliver transformational projects which create 21st century learning environments, with integrated ICT solutions and deliver a strategic approach to pupil place planning across the whole estate. The full BSF Strategy for Change guidance can be found at:
Food: General Certificate of Secondary Education
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children studied GCSE Food Technology in each year since 1997. [182533]
Jim Knight: The information is given as follows:
| Number | |
The figures relate to 15-year-old pupils (age at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August) in all schools.
Comparative figures for 1996/97 are not available.
GCE A-Level
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 one or more pupils for A-levels in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 in (i) mathematics, (ii) physics, (iii) chemistry, (iv) French and (v) a modern language. [182895]
Jim Knight: The information to answer part (d) is as follows:
| Schools entering one or more pupils | ||
| Number | Percentage | |
These figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August 2006) in all maintained schools.
‘Any Modern Language’ includes Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Gujarati, Italian, Japanese, Modern Greek, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu.
To answer parts (a), (b), and (c) would go over the disproportionate cost threshold.
General Certificate of Secondary Education
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what proportion of entrants for GCSE (a) mathematics, (b) modern languages, (c) science (dual award), (d) physics, (e) chemistry and (f) biology examinations in 2007 attended (i) academies, (ii) maintained comprehensive schools, (iii) faith schools, (iv) grammar schools and (v) private schools; [177825]
(2) what proportion of entrants for GCSE (a) media studies, (b) dance, (c) business studies, (d) film studies and (e) communication studies examinations in 2007 attended (i) academies, (ii) maintained comprehensive schools, (iii) faith schools, (iv) grammar schools and (v) private schools. [177826]
Jim Knight: The information to answer parts (ii), (iv) and (v) is shown in the following table. To answer (ii) and (iii) would go over the disproportionate cost threshold.
| Entries into GCSE examinations by school type for 2006/07 | |||||||
| Comprehensive schools | Selective schools | Independent schools | |||||
| Number of entries | Percentage of total entries | Number of entries | Percentage of total entries | Number of entries | Percentage of total entries | Total entries | |
| Note: Dance is included in ‘Physical Education’. | |||||||
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