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27 Apr 2009 : Column 1146W—continued
Data for 2008 and 2005 are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4.
Data for 1997 are based on 15-year-old pupils at the start of the school year.
Science: GCSE
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of (a) maintained, (b) specialist science, (c) grammar and (d) independent schools offered triple science GCSE courses in physics, chemistry and biology in each year since 1992. [241895]
Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 499W.
Science: General Certificate of Secondary Education
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of schools with a specialism in science offer single science GCSEs. [259096]
Jim Knight: The Department does not hold information on the subjects offered by schools at key stage 4.
Of all schools with a specialism in sciences, 310 (74.8 per cent.) entered at least one pupil in each of the physics, chemistry and biology at GCSE(1) in 2008.
(1) Only GCSEs have been counted.
Source:
Achievement and Attainment Tables’ database.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what remuneration he expects Dr. Ken Boston to have received from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority between the date of his suspension and 11 June 2009. [269648]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: This is a matter for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Andrew Hall, Acting Chief Executive of QCA, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Andrew Hall, dated 23 April 2009:
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to respond to your question concerning the remuneration Dr. Ken Boston will receive between the date of his suspension from the QCA and 11 June 2009.
I can confirm that the QCA expects to pay Dr. Ken Boston approximately £180,000 in that period, which brings his contract with the QCA to an end. This payment includes contractual entitlements only. No special severance payments will be made to Dr. Boston, except in so far as he will not be required to work out his full period of notice to 11 June 2009. Similarly, no performance bonus for this latest period nor any pension enhancement will be paid.
Outdoor education: Finance
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what support his Department has made available to (a) small and (b) independent organisations which provide learning experiences to develop their capacities and capabilities to meet the quality requirements of the Learning Outside the Classroom manifesto. [271321]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As part of its pledge of support for the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) manifesto, the Department, working with representatives from across the full range of organisations providing learning outside the classroom, has developed the LOtC Quality Badge. It is awarded to providers of any size who have pledged to engage in an on-going process to sustain high quality learning outside the classroom. For those organisations that provide activities that are deemed to have a lower requirement in terms of risk management there is a new ‘Code of Practice'. This route includes an online self assessment and guidance, with a 10 per cent. sampling of Quality Assurance visits. Nine manifesto sectors for example, heritage, natural environment and arts and creativity, have champion trainers whose role is to lead training events for organisations interested in achieving the Quality Badge.
This is not a compulsory scheme. However, we hope that providers will see the benefit of the Quality Badge in reviewing and improving their own offer. It provides a framework for organisations to work in partnership with schools, youth groups and local authorities, and be confident they are providing inspirational experiences that meet young people's needs.
Sixth Form Education: Finance
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding allocations have been made to schools in each London borough in respect of post-16 education in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [271054]
Jim Knight [holding answer 24 April 2009]: This is a matter for the LSC. Geoff Russell, the LSC’s Acting Chief Executive will respond with the information the hon. Gentleman has requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.
We have been working across Government to identify additional funding for the recent unanticipated surge in demand for education and training in part due to these exceptional economic times. Thanks to the £655 million
funding announcement in the Budget, we will be able to deliver this and more, and fund learning for an additional 54,500 young people this year and next.
This will mean that we have funding for at least 1,550,000 for 2009/10 and 2010/11.
Special Educational Needs
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what procedures govern the establishment of non-maintained special schools. [269874]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A school seeking approval as a non-maintained special school under section 342 of the Education Act 1986 has to meet the requirements of the Education (Non-Maintained Special Schools) (England) Regulations 1999. In broad terms a school has to be run by a charity or charitable trust on a not-for-profit basis, it has to meet the standards for schools in the maintained sector and has to have similar governance arrangements to a maintained school.
Checks are also made to ensure the financial viability of a school before approval is granted.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families by what (a) criteria and (b) mechanisms funding is allocated to non-maintained special schools. [269875]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Non-maintained special schools have access to certain departmental capital and revenue funding streams. However, most funding for NMSSs is raised through fees for pupil placements paid by either local authorities or individual parents. The criteria used to allocate funding are dependent upon the funding stream. Where the funding stream is available to all NMSSs the most usual criteria used are: the number of pupils in a school, the number of pupils for which a school is approved or, in the case of funding relating specifically to teachers, the number of teachers with particular experience and qualifications. Where an application or bid is required for a funding stream then the application or bid has to meet the specific criteria applicable to that stream. Departmental funding is paid directly to NMSSs by the Department.
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