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22 Apr 2009 : Column 674W—continued

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) in how many schools less than 30 per cent. of eligible pupils achieved (a) five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics, (b) a GCSE at grades A* to C in (i) mathematics, (ii) English literature, (iii) English language, (iv) physics, (v) chemistry and (vi) French, German and Spanish in the last 12 months, broken down by decile of income deprivation based on school location; [257731]

(2) in how many schools less than 30 per cent. of eligible pupils achieved a grade A* to C in (a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) English literature, (d) French, Spanish and German, (e) chemistry and (f) English language in the last 12 months, broken down by decile of income deprivation affecting children indices. [257732]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

A wide range of information on the attainment of pupils in schools is published in the achievement and attainment tables which are available in the Libraries.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many and what percentage of pupils who were (a) in care and (b) not in care gained five or more GCSEs at A* or A including English and mathematics in the most recent year for which figures are available; [262351]


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(2) how many and what percentage of pupils who were (a) in care and (b) not in care did not gain five or more GCSEs at any grade in the most recent year for which figures are available; [262352]

(3) how many and what percentage of pupils who were (a) in care and (b) not in care did not gain one or more GCSEs at any grade in the most recent year for which figures are available; [262354]

(4) how many and what percentage of pupils who were (a) in care and (b) not in care did not gain one or more C grades or above at GCSE in the most recent year for which figures are available; [262355]

(5) how many and what percentage of pupils who were (a) in care and (b) not in care did not achieve an A* or A in any GCSE in the most recent year for which figures are available. [262356]

Beverley Hughes: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release “Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2007—England” (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department’s website via the following link:

Information on attainment in schools at Key Stage 4 for children looked after continuously for 12 months compared to all children can be found in table C. This shows the following:

As the OC2 is an aggregate data collection, these figures cannot be broken down into any further detail for example by subject, number of GCSEs taken or grade.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Gifted Children

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils registered as gifted and talented gained five or more GCSEs at grade A or A* in the latest year for which figures are available. [260541]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In 2008, 39,754 pupils in maintained schools registered as gifted and talented gained five or more GCSEs at grade A or A* or equivalent at the end of KS4.

Israel: Anniversaries

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009, Official Report, column 358W, on Israel: anniversaries, if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech he made at the Salute to Israel celebration; who drafted the speech; and if he will make a statement. [268562]


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Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A copy of the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families' speech to the ‘Salute to Israel' celebration is available on the Department's website:

The Secretary of State is responsible for the content of his speeches.

National Curriculum Tests

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals were not entered for Key Stage 1 tests in each of the last three years, broken down by reason for non-entry. [268491]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since 2005, schools have only been required to report teacher assessment results at KS1. The information requested is therefore not available.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) inquiry into issues raised by the Sutherland Report, as referred to in the QCA statement of 1 April 2009. [269649]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The results of the internal inquiry referred to in the previous answer are reflected in the published statements. The detailed findings of the inquiry are confidential, contain personal data and are subject to legal privilege, and cannot be published.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1248-49W, on performing arts, what the cost was to his Department of engaging actors, musicians and other performers supporting the Department’s initiatives and campaigns since June 2007. [267470]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry [holding answer 31 March 2009]: Since its inception, in June 2007, the Department has spent a total of £85,205, excluding VAT, paid to actors, musicians and performers for appearance in some of the Department’s marketing campaigns.

Pupil Exclusions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who were eligible for free school meals and had non-statemented special educational needs were given (a) fixed-term and (b) permanent exclusions in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2008. [260936]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Exclusions data were matched to pupil characteristics for the first time in 2005/06, but for secondary schools only. In 2006/07 this was extended to primary and special schools. Therefore exclusions related to free school meal eligibility are not available for 2004.

Information on exclusions for the 2007/08 school year is expected to be published in the summer.


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Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who were eligible for free school meals, had statemented special educational needs and were children in care were given (a) fixed-term and (b) permanent exclusions in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2008. [260937]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Currently available sources of data on children in care do not provide sufficiently complete data to answer this question.

Information on children in care is usually sourced from the Looked After Children database but this cannot be used to answer this question.

The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release “Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2007—England” (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department’s website via the following link:

This includes some information on permanent exclusions. Information on fixed period exclusions is not covered by the OC2 data collection.

Information on both pupils in care and fixed period exclusions are collected via the School Census. However the School Census does not cover all looked after children; information is not collected for pupils in alternative provision, including pupil referral units, FE colleges, voluntary provision and those not in education or training. In addition, the School Census may undercount the number of looked after children in schools.

The Department is working on a project to match the Looked After Children database to the National Pupil Database. If successful this would enable us to produce analysis for looked after children on a range of attainment indicators and characteristics, including information on special educational needs and exclusions.

Pupil Exclusions: Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils who were eligible for free school meals and had special educational needs were given (a) fixed-term and (b) permanent exclusions in each year since 1997. [262106]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data on pupil characteristics linked to exclusions were collected in the School Census for the first time in 2005/06, but were collected from secondary schools only. In 2006/07 data were also collected from primary and special schools. The special educational needs status can change between periods of exclusion and the Department is currently working on a methodology for the analysis of this information.

Pupil Referral Units

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which pupil referral units (a) opened and (b) closed in 2008. [256825]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The numbers of Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) opened and closed in 2008 were 32 and 25 respectively.

The following two lists name the relevant PRUs:


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Pupil Referral Units opened in 2008

Pupil Referral Units closed in 2008


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