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11 May 2009 : Column 581W—continued


Wedgwood: Pensions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had on the pensions of the Waterford Wedgwood workers. [272470]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There have been no specific discussions relating to Waterford Wedgwood workers pensions.

The Pension Protection Fund has received formal notifications from insolvency practitioners in respect of various companies in the Waterford Wedgwood group. It is currently working with the Trustees to determine if the associated pension schemes qualify for entry into a PPF assessment period.


11 May 2009 : Column 582W

Children, Schools and Families

Children: Protection

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in the family legal aid budget on the Government's ability to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. [271458]

Mr. Malik: I have been asked to reply.

The consultation, ‘Family Legal Aid Funding from 2010’, was published by my Department and the Legal Services Commission on 17 December 2008. The consultation paper was accompanied by a detailed impact assessment which considered the impact of the changes on lawyers and the public.

The consultation proposed that in future the provision of guardians ad litem for children separately represented in family proceedings would be solely the responsibility of the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS), and could no longer be considered a legal aid disbursement. This is because these are not legal expenses. The proposal was put forward following discussions with CAFCASS, who confirmed that subject to suitable resources being available they agreed with the point in principle. The consultation responses are now being analysed since the close of the consultation on 3 April. We will have further discussions with the Legal Services Commission, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and CAFCASS, in the light of the evaluation, to agree a response to the consultation.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students in post-16 education in (a) the London Borough of Bexley and (b) England are in receipt of education maintenance allowance. [272756]

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell the LSC’s Acting Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the (a) level of take up and (b) cost of the education maintenance allowance in each of the next five years. [272970]

Jim Knight: We estimate that nearly half of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in full-time education will take up EMA, and all of those on the Entry to Employment programme.

The budget allocations for the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the current comprehensive spending review (CSR) period are: 2009/10 £529 million and 2010/11 £529 million. Forecasts of expenditure and take-up beyond the current CSR period are not currently available.


11 May 2009 : Column 583W

Budget 2009 provided funding for an additional 54,500 learners over and above the numbers to be funded from the CSR budget, a high proportion of these are expected to be eligible for EMA. These learners will be funded in the academic years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people are in receipt of education maintenance allowance; and what estimate he has made of the expenditure incurred by his Department on the provision of such allowances in the last 12 months. [273095]

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell the LSC’s acting chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Education: Standards

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many qualifications have been considered for approval by the Joint Advisory Council for Qualifications in each month for which data are available; how many of these qualifications were (a) rejected and (b) accepted; and if he will make a statement. [272754]

Jim Knight: The Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval (JACQA) has met twice: on 3 December 2008 and 19 March 2009.

Two newly-accredited “standalone” qualifications were considered at the December meeting. The committee recommended that both should be approved as eligible for public funding, on the basis that they satisfied the Section 96 criteria.

44 standalone qualifications were reviewed at the second meeting of JACQA in March. Recommendations were made in favour of funding nine qualifications, and against approval in the case of one qualification, which the committee did not feel had satisfied the Section 96 criteria. 34 qualifications were referred back to awarding organisations where there was insufficient evidence to judge if the criteria had been met.

The Secretary of State has accepted all of JACQA's recommendations to date.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many pupils achieved grade C or higher in GCSE physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics in (a) 1997, (b) 2003 and (c) 2008; [274318]

(2) how many pupils achieved grade C or higher in GCSE English Literature, English and mathematics in (a) 1997, (b) 2003 and (c) 2008; [274319]

(3) how many pupils achieved six or more GCSEs including grade C or higher in mathematics, English, English Literature, double award science or all three separate sciences and history in 2008. [274320]


11 May 2009 : Column 584W

Jim Knight: The answers to these questions are given in the following table:

Question 1997( 1) 2003( 1) 2008( 1)

274318

Number of pupils attaining A*-C in four or more GCSEs including physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics

26,594

31,670

53,625

274319

Number of pupils attaining A*-C in three or more GCSEs including English, English literature and mathematics

196,263

248,632

276,681

274320

Number of pupils attaining A*-C in six or more GCSEs including English, English literature, mathematics, history and either physics, chemistry and biology or double award science

24,597

(1) Prior to 2005, figures are based on 15-year-old pupils whereas in subsequent years figures are based on pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.
Source:
The Achievement and Attainment Tables’ database

Havering Sixth Form College

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has allocated to Havering Sixth Form College for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [272899]

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) hold the information you have requested. Geoffrey Russell, the LSC’s acting chief executive, will write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Schools: Complaints

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms exist for parents to complain about the standard of teaching in a school; and if he will make a statement. [273398]

Jim Knight: Since 1 September 2003, governing bodies of all maintained schools and maintained nursery schools in England have been required, under section 29 of the Education Act 2002, to have in place a procedure to deal with complaints relating to the school and any community facilities or services that the school provides. The law also requires the procedure to be publicised. Parents may also approach Ofsted, which has powers to investigate and if necessary conduct an inspection of the school. In addition, parents’ views are sought and considered as part of all school inspections.

Schools: Information and Communications Technology

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of computers in primary schools in (a) the London Borough of Bexley and (b) Greater London. [273201]

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect the information requested.


11 May 2009 : Column 585W

Schools: Standards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools have been taken into special measures more than once since 1997. [269877]

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HMCI Christine Gilbert will be replying and a copy will be placed in the House Libraries.

Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 24 April 2009:


11 May 2009 : Column 586W

11 May 2009 : Column 587W

11 May 2009 : Column 588W
Schools placed in special measures more than once between 1 September 1997 and 31 December 2008
URN School LA Still open/closed

130340

Monteagle Primary School

Barking and Dagenham

Open

103309

Primrose Hill Community School

Birmingham

Open

101526

Chalkhill Primary School

Brent

Open

132008

Burwood School

Bromley

Open

110492

Quarrendon School

Buckinghamshire

Open

107532

Mount Pellon Junior and Infant School

Calderdale

Open

110857

St. Andrew's CofE Community VA Junior School

Cambridgeshire

Closed

109747

Oak Bank School

Central Bedfordshire

Open

109139

Badocks Wood Primary School

City of Bristol

Open

112390

The Morton School

Cumbria

Closed

112558

Langley MILL Junior School

Derbyshire

Open

112937

Deincourt Community School

Derbyshire

Open

113373

Bridgerule Church of England Primary School

Devon

Open

106781

North Doncaster Technology College

Doncaster

Open

115604

Finlay Community School

Gloucestershire

Closed

115817

Cam House School

Gloucestershire

Open

100240

Sebright School

Hackney

Open

116233

Park Primary School

Hampshire

Open

115995

Shepherds Spring Junior School

Hampshire

Closed

130325

Waite End Primary School

Hampshire

Open

115838

The Bridge Education Centre

Hampshire

Open

102449

Abbotsfield School

Hillingdon

Open

102557

Syon Park School

Hounslow

Closed

118259

Northcourt Primary School

Kent

Closed

118724

St. Barnabas CofE VA Primary School

Kent

Open

118925

Montgomery School

Kent

Closed

107759

Fartown High School

Kirklees

Open

119998

Queensmead Junior School

Leicester City

Closed

120087

Beaumont Lodge Primary School

Leicester City

Open

120687

Hartsholme Primary School

Lincolnshire

Open

104595

Childwall Valley Primary School

Liverpool

Closed

109425

Orchard Centre

Luton

Open

105548

Saviour CofE Primary School

Manchester

Open

102669

St. Teresas Catholic Primary School

Merton

Open

110532

The Radcliffe School

Milton Keynes

Open

108520

Gosforth Junior High School

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Open

120906

Fairstead Community Primary School

Norfolk

Open

121211

Costessey High School

Norfolk

Open

117953

Strand Junior School

North East Lincolnshire

Closed

122154

The Orchard School

Northamptonshire

Closed

121928

Sunnyside Primary School

Northamptonshire

Open

122325

West Sleekburn Middle School

Northumberland

Open

122438

St. Ann's Well Junior School

Nottingham City

Closed

123083

Thameside Primary School

Oxfordshire

Open

109777

Battle Primary School

Reading

Open

106011

New Park High School

Salford

Open

103914

Burnt Tree Primary School

Sandwell

Open

110077

Langleywood School

Slough

Closed

100797

John Donne Primary School

Southwark

Open

100806

Peckham Rye Primary School

Southwark

Closed

124854

Kirkley Middle School

Suffolk

Open

124976

St. Francis, Westborough Community Primary School

Surrey

Closed

114900

Chadwell St. Mary Primary School

Thurrock

Open

100887

Alice Model Nursery School

Tower Hamlets

Open

104165

Beechdale Primary School

Walsall

Closed

103040

Church Mead Junior School

Waltham Forest

Closed

130873

Acorns Primary School

Warwickshire

Open

126489

Ludgershall Castle Primary School

Wiltshire

Open

116751

Worcester, Dines Green Primary School

Worcestershire

Open

116771

Worcester, Elbury Mount Primary School

Worcestershire

Closed

131491

Redgrave School

Worcestershire

Closed

116710

Malvern Hills Primary School

Worcestershire

Closed

107364

Rhodesway School

Bradford

Open

107228

Usher Street

Bradford

Closed

108473

Montagu Community Full Service School

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Closed

133267

Sherwood Hall School and Sixth Form College

Nottinghamshire

Closed

125272

Thomas Knyvett College

Surrey

Open


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