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10 Mar 2008 : Column 175W—continued
Children: Protection
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on his Department's proposals to replace Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution with broader guidance aimed at safeguarding children from sexual exploitation, including those who have been groomed over the internet; and when he expects to publish this new guidance. [191440]
Kevin Brennan: The Government have been discussing with key organisations with expertise in this area how the guidance on Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution can be updated and expanded to help local agencies safeguard children from sexual exploitation more generally. We have commissioned ease study research examining how local areas currently tackle this issue, which will also help to ensure the guidance is informed by effective current practice. We plan to publish a draft for consultation before the summer.
Class Sizes: Eastbourne
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what the average pupil:teacher ratio was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last five years; [192124]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of teaching assistants who left posts in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last five years. [192125]
Jim Knight: The following table provides the pupil:teacher ratio in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Eastbourne constituency and England in each January, 2003 to 2007.
Information on the number of teaching assistants who left their posts each year is not collected centrally. Figures from the School Census shows that there were 230 teaching assistants in service in Eastbourne constituency in January 2003 and there were 250 in January 2007.
The new School Workforce Census, which is expected to be in place in 2010, will provide more detailed information on the inflow and outflow of teaching assistants.
| Pupil:teacher ratios in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools, years: January 2003 to 2007—coverage: Eastbourne constituency and England | ||||
| Eastbourne constituency | England | |||
| January | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary |
| Source: School Census | ||||
Class Sizes: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size was in City of York local education authority schools for (a) infant, (b) junior and (c) secondary pupils in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [192252]
Jim Knight: The information for key stage 1, key stage 2 and secondary school class sizes is given in the following table:
| Average class size: York local authority, 1997 and 2007 (January each year) | ||
| 1997 | 2007 | |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. Source: School Census | ||
Departmental ICT
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 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. [180564]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Children Schools and Families. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal and external information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.
Departmental Private Finance Initiative
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what private finance initiative projects were approved by his Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the (a) value and (b) start date was of each. [190834]
Jim Knight: The capital value and start date for every signed PFI project is recorded centrally on the Treasury’s website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_ partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm.
If the hon. Member requires any further information, he should contact Phil Batchelor at 020 7270 4496 or phil.batchelor@hm-treasury.x.gsi,gov.uk.
Education: Assessments
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on examination fees by schools in each year since 2002. [191293]
Jim Knight:
The information in the following table covers the costs incurred by all local authority maintained primary, secondary and special schools, for test administration and examination entry fees and any
accreditation costs related to pupils taking GCSEs, GNVQs, AS and A2 qualifications. There are no fees for national curriculum tests for maintained schools.
| Academic year | Amount (£ million) |
| Source: http://www.dfes/gov.uk/localauthorities/section52 (Budget Data Archive-Summary Level) | |
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) carried out a review of the fees for GCSEs and A levels in 2006. The QCA and its fellow regulators are currently preparing a report on the fees for the revised A levels that are to be introduced in schools and colleges in September 2008. The report will be published in the spring of 2008. The QCA is also setting in hand a study of the efficiency of the examinations system.
Education: Expenditure
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what comparisons he routinely makes between a council's education gross expenditure and the same council's original budget unpublished/computerised in the CedAr system for education and regeneration; and if he will make a statement; [176857]
(2) what allowances are routinely made for a council that records its additional gross expenditure on schools but not its additional gross income; and if he will make a statement. [176858]
Jim Knight: The Department does not make such comparisons, or allowances.
Education: Standards
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) infant, (b) junior, (c) primary, (d) secondary and (e) special schools have been awarded ratings of (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory and (iv) inadequate following an inspection by Ofsted in each London borough in each of the last five years. [185982]
Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
Foundation Schools
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools (a) applied for and (b) received foundation status in each year for which figures are available. [191201]
Jim Knight: The following table sets out the number of proposals by schools, to change category to foundation, that the Department has been informed have been published since 2001, and how many have been approved.
| Published | Approved | |
In addition to the aforementioned, a further 37 schools have published proposals to change category to foundation (since November 2007), but the proposals have not yet been decided.
Where a school governing body wishes to change category to foundation, they must follow a statutory process. The current process involves five stages: consultation (with prescribed parties); publication (of a statutory notice in a local newspaper, at the entrance to the school and in a local conspicuous place); representations (allowing four weeks for comments and objections to be submitted; decision (normally by the governing body); and implementation (if proposals are approved). The Secretary of State has no role in the process.
Further Education: East of England
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils aged 16 to 18 years have been educated in (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth-form colleges in the East of England in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area. [169963]
Jim Knight: Figures for learners aged 16 to 18 participating in further education (FE) programmes in further education colleges and sixth-form colleges can be derived from the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) individualised learner record (ILR). The FE ILR was collated for the first time in 2002/03 and figures are given from that time.
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