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Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has made a cost-benefit assessment of the merits of extending the Dinner Money module to all primary schools using the SIMS register software. [34683]

Mr Gibb: The Department does not generally assess individual software applications such as SIMS in schools. It is for schools and local authorities to decide which products, including software of this type, best suit their needs. They are best placed to procure such products based on their particular circumstances.

However, we are always interested to hear about new developments in technology and to support value for money and good compatibility (interoperability) between operating systems such as SIMS and other systems.

Schools: Finance

Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how funds for capital spending will be allocated equitably to (a) new academy schools and (b) maintained schools. [9097]

Mr Gibb: On 13 December 2010, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove) announced 2011-12 allocations of capital funding for local authorities and schools. This included that open academies will continue to be eligible for devolved

3 Feb 2011 : Column 973W

formula capital funds on the same basis as maintained schools, and that there will be a centrally retained capital fund for academy maintenance needs. From 2012-13, allocations will be informed by the capital review which the Secretary of State announced on 5 July 2010, and which will be published in due course.

Teachers: Qualifications

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of trainee

3 Feb 2011 : Column 974W

teachers retook the compulsory

(a)

numeracy and

(b)

literacy test (i) once, (ii) twice and (iii) three times or more in each of the last five years. [32203]

Mr Gibb: The available information is given in the following table and relates to the number of trainees who passed their skills tests after one, two or more than two attempts between 2004/05 and 2008/09.

Number and percentage of candidates taking tests by number of attempts years: 2004/05 to 2008/09. Coverage: England
  2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09

No. % No % No. % No. % No. %

Literacy test

                   

Total number of candidates taking test

34,400

—

34,700

—

35,280

—

33,990

—

33,520

—

Passed skills tests by number of attempts:

                    

1

26,930

78.3

27,440

79.1

28,940

82.0

27,320

80.4

26,810

80.0

2

4,410

12.8

4,200

12.1

3,710

10.5

3,760

11.1

3,890

11.6

3 or more

2,560

7.4

2,510

7.2

2,270

6.4

2,490

7.3

2,730

8.2

Total pass

33,900

98.6

34,150

98.4

34,930

99.0

33,570

98.8

33,440

99.8
                     

Failed at least once and are yet to pass

490

1.4

550

1.6

360

1.0

420

1.2

80

0.2
                     

Numeracy test

                   

Total number of candidates taking test

33,970

—

34,290

—

34,920

—

33,600

—

33,520

—

Passed skills tests by number of attempts:

                    

1

26,960

79.4

26,790

78.1

26,810

76.8

26,160

77.9

26,030

77.7

2

3.310

9.8

3,430

10.0

3,520

10.1

3,260

9.7

3,190

9.5

3 or more

2,970

8.7

3,160

9.2

3,840

11.0

3,480

10.4

3,530

10.5

Total pass

33,250

97.9

33,380

97.3

34,170

97.8

32,910

97.9

32,750

97.7
                     

Failed at least once and are yet to pass

720

2.1

910

2.7

750

2.2

690

2.1

770

2.3
Note: Numbers have been individually rounded to nearest 10 and may not sum. Source: TDA website
 
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