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10 Mar 2008 : Column 184W—continued
Primary Education: Transport
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of primary school children who travel (a) to and (b) from school by (i) car, (ii) public transport, (iii) walking, (iv) cycling and (v) school-organised bus transport. [193029]
Jim Knight: Home to school mode of travel data were collected at pupil level for the first time in the 2007 schools census, but are only compulsory for schools with an approved School Travel Plan in place. According to the most recent available figures; 14,063 schools in England have approved travel plans. Mode of travel data do not distinguish between “home to school” and “school to home” journeys. The following table shows the percentage and mode of travel for primary pupils in England, derived from the 2007 schools census.
| Mode of travel | Percentage of primary pupils |
Primary Education: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) teachers, (b) non-teaching assistants and (c) support staff there were in York primary schools (i) in total and (ii) per pupil in (A) 1996-97 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available. [192253]
Jim Knight: The following table provides the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers, teaching assistants, non-teaching assistants and other support staff in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools in York local authority and England in January 1997 and 2007. The pupil:staff ratio for each of these groups is also provided.
| Full-time equivalent regular teachers, teaching assistants, non-teaching assistants, other support staff pupil:teacher ratio (PTR) and pupil:staff ratios (PSR) in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools—coverage: York local authority and England | ||||||||
| Years: January 1997 and 2007 | ||||||||
| 1997 | 2007 | |||||||
| York | England | York | England | |||||
| Teacher | PSR/P TR | Teacher | PSR/P TR | Teacher | PSR/P TR | PSR/P Teacher | PSR/P TR | |
| (1) Source: Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, 618 g except PTR/PSR which is derived from School Census. (2) Excludes occasionals. (3) Source: School Census. (4) Includes special needs support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff. (5) Excludes teaching assistants. Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10. | ||||||||
Private Education: GCE AS-Level
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils in independent schools were entered for AS-level in each year from 1997; and if he will make a statement. [190347]
Jim Knight: The numbers of pupils in independent schools who were entered for AS level are as follows:
| Pupils in independent schools entered for AS levels | |
| Number | |
These figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31( )August).
The figures relate to pupils who either took or cashed in AS levels during each academic year. Consequently, comparison with all 16 to 18-year-olds is not appropriate and so percentages cannot be provided.
AS levels were first introduced in 2000/01.
Religious Freedom
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what response he plans to make to paragraphs 69 and 70 of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief's report of her mission to the UK (A/HRC/7/10/Add.3). [190522]
Jim Knight: The Government welcome the publication of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur on religion or belief. We have noted the contents of the report and welcome the positive statements about freedom of religion or belief in the UK.
In respect of paragraph 69, the Government remain committed to the promotion and protection of human rights including respect for, and acceptance of, pluralism and diversity. The non-statutory framework for religious education places inclusion, tolerance, diversity and interfaith dialogue at the heart of children's learning. Each locally agreed syllabus must take into account not only Christianity but the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in the country. The membership of a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education, as set out in law, should comprise representatives of Christian denominations and other religions which reflect the principal religious traditions in the area, as well as representatives of teaching unions and of the local authority.
In relation to paragraph 70 of the report, every parent has the right to withdraw their child from all or any part of religious education and/or collective worship. Since September 2007, sixth form pupils have had the right to opt out of collective worship without
parental consent. We believe it is reasonable to limit this right to collective worship and to those above compulsory school age.
Schools
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) of 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 406W, on schools, how many non-maintained schools have been opened in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority. [190698]
Jim Knight: A table showing the numbers of non-maintained schools opened since 1997, broken down by local authority, has been placed in the House Library. The table separates the main types of establishment: (A) academies and city technology colleges; (B) independent schools; (C) independent special schools; and, (D) non-maintained special schools.
It should be noted that maintained special schools were not included in the answer of 8 October 2007.
Schools: Accidents
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils and students were taken to hospital due to accidents within schools in Colchester constituency in each of the last five years. [180360]
Jim Knight: Figures from the Health and Safety Executive covering reportable injuries to non-employees, including pupils and students, in schools, in the Colchester borough council area are set out in the following table. This area comprises Colchester and North Essex constituencies.
| Colchester borough council area: schools | |
Under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995), an accident that happens to pupils or visitors in a school must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive if the person involved is killed or is taken to hospital from the site of the accident and the accident arises out of or in connection with work.
Schools: Assessments
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have withdrawn from participation in the National Test pilot scheme. [192569]
Jim Knight:
Single Level Tests are being trialled as one element of the Making Good Progress pilot. 476 schools were involved when the pilot began in September 2007. Since then, 21 schools have withdrawn their participation from the Making Good Progress pilot,
mostly due to changes of personnel. 411 pilot schools entered pupils for the first round of Single Level Tests in December 2007.
Schools: Facilities
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recommendations there are under the Building Schools for the Future programme on changing facilities, with particular reference to the number of year groups utilising the facilities at any one time. [191873]
Jim Knight: The BSF programme guidance does not make specific recommendations for this provision. Its aim is to raise the standard of educational attainment through the development of school buildings fit for 21(st )Century teaching and learning. The BSF programme, which is largely administered by local authorities, does however, use a number of publications to advise schools and building professionals on the details of the building brief. In the case of changing facilities those documents would be BB98 and the School Premises Regulations (SPRs).
‘The total area of total and personal care facilities.... must include:
........changing rooms with showers, near to indoor and outdoor sports provision......
The location and design of toilet and changing room facilities should balance the demands for both privacy and adequate supervision.
Normally it is sufficient to provide changing facilities for half a year group with equal and separate facilities for boys and girls in co-educational schools and further changing rooms for the sixth form. Showers should generally be in the form of separate cubicles, with approximately one for every six or seven pupils changing. In addition, at least one accessible changing area (with a sanitary fitting, wash basin and shower) should be provided in each changing area.’
BB98 has drawn some of its information from a Sport England guidance note on the design of sports halls, although this does not make reference specifically to schools.
The School Premises Regulations state that
‘.....Changing accommodation including showers shall be provided for pupils who have attained the age of 11 years and who are in receipt of physical education and that accommodation shall be readily accessible from the school grounds and from any accommodation provided for physical education within the school buildings’.
Schools: Finance
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how the Partnerships for Schools programme determines allocations of capital funding to academy schools; and how the Building Schools for the Future programme determines such allocations to local authorities for new schools. [192626]
Jim Knight: Funding for academies and new schools within BSF is determined by Partnerships for Schools in accordance with the ‘Funding Guidance for BSF Projects, including Academies’ document which is available from the Partnerships for Schools website. The website address is:
Schools: Innovation
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools (a) applied for and (b) were granted powers to innovate in each year since 2002. [192394]
Jim Knight: The Secretary of State has made 29 Power to Innovate orders in total that have directly benefited around 200 schools and colleges. The following table sets out the number of Power to Innovate formal applications received in each academic year since 2002; the number of orders made; and the number of schools to which those orders applied. The Department has received over 1,700 formal inquiries since it was introduced, many of which could be implemented within existing legislation, or did not meet the criteria for the PtI.
| Annual report (academic year) | Number of formal applications | Number withdrawn | Number of orders made | Number of schools covered |
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