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20 Jan 2009 : Column 1425W—continued


20 Jan 2009 : Column 1426W

Schools: Standards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many schools were in special measures on 1 December 2008; [247454]

(2) how many schools were classed as requiring significant improvement on 1 December 2008. [247455]

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of schools requiring special measures and significant improvement (notice to improve) at 31 August 2008. It reflects the latest information published by Ofsted. Data for the autumn term 2008 are due to be published at the end of this month.

Number of schools requiring special measures at 31 August 2008 Number of schools requiring significant improvement at 31 August 2008

Primary

157

168

Secondary

50

70

Special

14

2

Pupil referral unit

12

1

Total

233

241


Specialised Diplomas

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the consultation on Promoting achievement, valuing success: a strategy for 14 to 19 qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [247239]

Jim Knight: In March 2008 we published our consultation paper “Promoting achievement, valuing success: A strategy for 14-19 qualifications”. The consultation closed on 23 June 2008. We published a summary of the responses to the consultation on the DCSF consultation website

in July 2008 and published our formal response to the consultation in our “Delivering 14-19 Reform: Next Steps” document which was published on 13 October 2008

Teachers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many mathematics teachers were employed in maintained (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England in each of the last 10 years; [247485]

(2) how many teachers of foreign languages were employed in maintained secondary schools in England in each of the last 10 years. [247486]

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available.

The number of mathematics teachers in maintained primary schools is not collected centrally; the number of teachers of mathematics and foreign languages in maintained secondary schools in England is collected as part of the Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey. This is an occasional survey that does not provide a full-time series.


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The following table gives data from the 2002 and 2007 surveys, the most recent years available:

Number of mathematics and foreign language teachers in maintained secondary schools in England; 2002 and 2007
Full-time( 1) Full-time equivalent( 1)

2002 2007 2002 2007

Mathematics

28,200

28,300

n/a

30,800

Foreign Languages(2)

French

16,000

13,000

n/a

14,900

German

6,900

5,800

n/a

6,600

Spanish

3,600

4,800

n/a

5,200

Other modem languages

1,400

1,800

n/a

2,100

(1 )Full-time teacher numbers are provided for 2002 and 2007; full-time equivalent teacher numbers (which includes part-time teachers) were only collected in 2007.
(2 )Foreign language teachers may include some double counting as teachers are counted once under each subject they teach—a teacher teaching both French and German, for example, will be counted once under each subject in the table.
Source:
Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey, 2002 and 2007

Teachers: Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent progress has been made on the Transition to Teaching programme; and if he will make a statement. [247406]

Jim Knight: Transition to Teaching was launched in July 2008 with some 50 organisations backing it. Since then this has risen to some 130 organisations supporting the programme by agreeing to promote teaching as a second career to their staff. In addition to this, many outplacement organisations have recently agreed to promote Transition to Teaching to companies they work with,
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and many influencing organisations, including the CBI, are supporting the programme. Transition to Teaching consultants are currently supporting 58 individuals at different stages of the process of deciding whether or not to become a teacher. So far five of these have entered teacher training, a further four have been offered teacher training places and most of the rest have applied for a place or intend to do so soon.

Young People: Antisocial Behaviour

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Youth Taskforce has taken to improve responses to (a) antisocial behaviour and other serious problems and (b) work with Government Offices and other bodies to improve local authority performance. [247264]

Beverley Hughes: The Youth Taskforce is now working across the country to drive improved local delivery of services and support for young people, ensuring that every local area has an effective approach to keep young people on track. The key steps taken by the Youth Taskforce are set out in my previous answer of 19 January 2009, Official Report, columns 1154-55W.

The taskforce works closely with Government offices and other key partners including children’s services, the police, youth justice and community safety services, to improve responses to youth antisocial behaviour, in line with the Government’s Improvement and Efficiency Strategy for LA performance.

This includes funding specific projects to test and develop innovative approaches, ministerial and official visits, and regional and national training events for practitioners and managers, sharing practice between areas.


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