Matriculation Diploma
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the implications for social inclusion of the introduction of a matriculation diploma. [41204]
Mr. Ivan Lewis
[holding answer 7 March 2002]: The Green Paper, 14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards sets out the proposal for an overarching award—the Matriculation Diploma. A key aim for the Diploma is that it should provide a clear goal for all young people. It should motivate a greater proportion to remain in education and training until 19 and so contribute to social inclusion. Our proposal for an Intermediate Diploma should be within the reach of the majority of young people, and we suggest too that we should recognise the progress of those who make a sustained effort but do not reach the threshold for the Intermediate Diploma by awarding them with a record of progress setting out their achievements. Our proposals for guidance and support for young people during the 14–19 phase should make an important contribution to the inclusion of those most at risk.
Job No: 715993 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator No 3. Date: 08/03/02
Standards (Key Stage 3)
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of OFSTED's recent report on the first year of the key stage 3 pilot programme to improve educational standards for 11 to 14-year-olds. [40821]
Mr. Timms:
OFSTED's report on the pilot strongly supported our decision to introduce the strategy to raise standards for all 11–14-year-olds. The report confirmed that the pilot had begun well, and that there was still much more to be done. The roll out of the national
8 Mar 2002 : Column 625W
strategy has benefited from the OFSTED conclusions. It has started well in secondary schools throughout the country.
School Governors
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to give school governors the power to remove a fellow governor for (a) unruly behaviour and (b) behaviour likely to bring the school into disrepute. [41120]
Mr. Timms:
Existing regulations allow for the removal of appointed governors by their appointing authority, but there is no provision for the removal of elected governors as they hold a mandate from their electorate. We have no immediate plans to extend the current removal powers, but we will be consulting on new regulations later in the year, and inviting representations on how current provisions can be improved.
Science/Engineering Students
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the impact on the number and standard of students entering further education to study science and engineering of (a) GCSE combined science courses, (b) GCSE and A level design and technology, (c) modular science A levels and (d) GNVQs, since their inception. [39700]
John Healey:
[holding answer 4 March 2002]: The information requested is not available.
Data on student numbers in FE are collected via the Individualised Student Record (ISR).The information collected on the ISR is not readily available by specific course subjects required in the PQ. Further, because there are a significant number of students categorised as "other" we cannot accurately detect changes from one year to the next.
However, we can provide the number of enrolments in science and engineering courses in FE sector colleges, as follows:
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000
|
|---|
| Science | 890,713 | 1,035,441 | 1,207,863
|
| Engineering | 369,998 | 342,785 | 309,327
|
The Science breakdown above includes mathematics and computing courses. The increase in Science courses is mainly due to IT related courses.
The ISR does not collect detailed information about prior attainment.
Job No: 715993 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator No 3. Date: 08/03/02
8 Mar 2002 : Column 626W
Citizenship Studies
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will issue guidance to schools to include the Queen's golden jubilee in studies of citizenship during the (a) current and (b) next academic year. [39556]
Mr. Ivan Lewis
[holding answer 1 March 2002]: Understanding the institutions that underpin our system of government is an important part of citizenship which becomes part of the statutory National Curriculum for 11–16 year olds in September 2002. Pupils will learn about the Monarchy and the role of the Queen as the head of State. Detailed guidance has been sent to all schools to support citizenship. Citizenship is flexible to allow teachers to decide the content of lessons, which can include discussions of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
The DfES supports the Spirit of Friendship festival which is a series of events aimed at celebrating, and increasing understanding of, the Commonwealth Games and the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The festival will take place in June and July.
Classroom Assistants
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she (a) has taken and (b) intends to take to encourage local authorities to pay classroom assistants all year round. [39461]
Mr. Timms:
Terms and conditions of employment of school support staff including teaching assistants are matters for local authorities and schools to determine. The National Joint Council for Local Government Services has established a working group to look at matters relating to the pay structure of school support staff and intends to issue further guidance.
Circulars
Mr. Damian Green:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the circular documents that have been sent by her Department to (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools since 7 June 2001; and how many pages each document contained.
Mr. Timms:
We have sent 85 documents to all primary schools in this period. The full list of titles and page numbers is contained in the following table.
Mailings to primary schools, 7 June 2001 to end February 2002
| Date | | No.
|
|---|
| Jun 01 | Letter from Estelle Morris | 2
|
| SEN Update 7 | 6
|
| Spectrum 43 | 8
|
| Jul 01 | Factual leaflet for all teachers on pay | 8
|
| Final decisions on changes schools will make on performance tables returns in 2001 | 3
|
| New deal for schools. NDS devolved formula capital | 6
|
| School Teachers Pay and Conditions of Employment 2001 | 36
|
| Teachers magazine—Spectrum 44 | 10
|
| Letter about delay in SEN Code | 2
|
| Sep 01 | Data collection timetable for schools | 2
|
| Guidance on Continuing Professional Development to CPD co-ordinators in schools | 15
|
| ICT in the Literacy hour (leaflet and CD ROM) | 6
|
| Preparation for the Annual School Census 2002 | 2
|
| Revised guidance on school teachers pay and conditions 2001 | 36
|
| School Performance tables: contextual, background and KS2 data for checking (outside batch—average page nos.) | 19
|
| School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document 2001 | 115
|
| Schools Achieving Success | 74
|
| Schools Achieving Success—summary white paper | 24
|
| September 2001 class size count (infant) | 3
|
| Special Grant claim forms (via LEA) | 10
|
| Spectrum | 19
|
| The National Literacy Strategy—Teaching writing: Fiction and non-fiction | 41
|
| The way forward—A modernised framework for School governance | 32
|
| Threshold + Performance Management planner | 4
|
| Oct 01 | After the events of 11 September | 1
|
| ELS Book—Early Literacy Support Programme: materials for teachers working in partnership with teaching assistants | 158
|
| Golden Jubilee Poetry Competition 2002 | 9
|
| Key Stage 1—The Autumn Package 2001—Pupil Performance Information and Interactive Autumn Package 2001, Version 2.0 | 35
|
| Key Stage 2—The Autumn Package 2001—Pupil Performance Information and Interactive Autumn Package 2001, Version 2.0 | 36
|
| School Achievement Award Scheme | 4
|
| Schools: achieving success—Discussion Pack | 1
|
| Spectrum 46 | 12
|
| Teachers magazine | 20
|
| Welcome back bonuses for returners to teaching—Guidance for schools and LEAs NEW | 41
|
| 2001 School and College Performance Tables—how to get tables | 1
|
| Nov 01 | Admission Appeals for Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools in England 1999–2000 | 3
|
| Advanced Skills Teachers—Poster one | 1
|
| Fast track flyer—how to get more information about the fast track NEW | 1
|
| Information about a consultation on the overarching strategy for young people NEW | 1
|
| Introducing Consistent Financial reporting | 30
|
| School Finance Pack—Advance notification | 1
|
| SEN Update | 6
|
| Spectrum | 8
|
| Threshold certificates data checking NEW | 5
|
| Dec 01 | Annual School Census 2002 | 21
|
| Early Years Headcount | 3
|
| Inclusive schooling for pupils with Special Educational Needs NEW | 32
|
| SEN Code of Practice | 210
|
| The SEN Toolkit | 224
|
| Internet safety | 1
|
| Health and Safety: Responsibilities and powers | 5
|
| National Numeracy Strategy: Springboard 6 Lessons for use in booster classes | 64
|
| Education Bill 2001 | 10
|
| Spectrum | 6
|
| Teacher certificates for threshold awards | 1
|
| Jan 02 | Helping children achieve throughout Year 6—English and mathematics
|
| Key Stage 1 and 2—schemes of work for citizenship | 200
|
| New Year letter from Secretary of State | 2
|
| Spectrum | 8
|
| Teacher magazine | 20
|
| Feb 02 | Commonwealth Day message from the Queen—Celebrating Diversity | 3
|
| Spectrum | 8
|
| Springboard 6: Lessons for use in booster classes (second part) | 72
|
| Teachers Pay 2002–03 | 8
|
|
|
| Total | | 1,755
|
8 Mar 2002 : Column 627W
Mailings to secondary schools, 7 June 2001 to end February 2002
| Date | | No.
|
|---|
| Jun 01 | Letter from Estelle Morris | 2
|
| Order form for Which Way Now? 2001, Teacher's Notes for It's Your Choice (for Year 10 and/or 11 cohort), Teacher's Notes for It's Your Choice, Which Way Now? | 2
|
| SEN Update 7 | 6
|
| Spectrum 43 | 8
|
| Jul 01 | Factual leaflet for all teachers on pay | 8
|
| Final decisions on changes schools will make on performance tables returns in 2001 NEW | 3
|
| New deal for schools. NDS devolved formula capital | 6
|
| School Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment 2001 | 36
|
| Spectrum 44 | 10
|
| Letter about delay in SEN Code | 2
|
| Sep 01 | Data collection timetable for schools | 2
|
| Guidance on Continuing Professional Development to CPD co-ordinators in schools NEW | 15
|
| Introduction to the Student Apprenticeship scheme | 20
|
| Preparation for the Annual School Census 2002 NEW | 4
|
| Revised guidance on school teachers' pay and conditions 2001 | 36
|
| School and College Performance tables: Examination results data checking collection (outside batch—average page nos.) | 25
|
| School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2001 | 115
|
| Schools Achieving Success NEW | 74
|
| Schools Achieving Success—summary white paper | 24
|
| September Pupil Count 2001 (via LEA) | 5
|
| Special Grant claim forms (via LEA) | 10
|
| Spectrum | 19
|
| Target Setting at Key Stage 4 (KS4) NEW | 3
|
| The way forward—A modernised framework for School governance NEW | 32
|
| Threshold + Performance Management planner | 4
|
| Oct 01 | After the events of 11 September | 1
|
| Key Stage 3—The Autumn Package 2001—Pupil Performance Information and Interactive Autumn Package 2001, Version 2.0 | 36
|
| School Achievement Award Scheme | 4
|
| Schools: achieving success—Discussion Pack NEW | 1
|
| Golden Jubilee Poetry Competition 2002 NEW | 9
|
| Spectrum 46 | 6
|
| Welcome back bonuses for returners to teaching—Guidance for schools and LEAs NEW | 41
|
| Nov 01 | Advanced Skills Teachers—Poster one | 1
|
| Aim Higher. Information to encourage disadvantaged young people into HE | 1
|
| Fast tracker flyer—Headteachers are you interested in recruiting a teacher who . . . | 1
|
| Information about Building a Strategy for Children and Young People | 1
|
| Introducing Consistent Financial reporting NEW | 30
|
| Key Stage 4—The Autumn Package 2001—Pupil Performance Information and Interactive Autumn Package 2001, Version 2.0 | 65
|
| New GCSEs in vocational subjects | 2
|
| School and College Performance tables—Letter about PIN to access pre-publication performance tables | 1
|
| Consistent Financial Reporting—Advance notification | 5
|
| Special Educational Needs Update | 6
|
| Spectrum |
|
| Threshold certificates data checking | 5
|
| Dec 01 | Annual School Census 2002 | 18
|
| Autumn Exclusions data collection 2002 | 1
|
| SEN Code of Practice NEW | 210
|
| Inclusive schooling for pupils with Special Educational Needs NEW | 32
|
| The SEN Toolkit NEW | 224
|
| Internet safety NEW | 1
|
| Health and Safety: Responsibilities and powers NEW | 5
|
| Education Bill 2001 NEW | 10
|
| Spectrum | 8
|
| Teacher certificates for threshold awards NEW | 1
|
| Jan 02 | Spectrum | 8
|
| Working with Connexions NEW | 8
|
| New Year letter from Secretary of State | 2
|
| Feb 02 | Consultation paper—14–19: Extending opportunities, raising standards NEW | 87
|
| Poster—14–19: Extending opportunities, raising standards |
|
| Response form—14–19: Extending opportunities, raising standards | 20
|
| Summary—14–19: Extending opportunities, raising standards | 18
|
| Commonwealth Day message from the Queen—Celebrating Diversity | 3
|
| Spectrum | 8
|
| Student support 2002–03 | 4
|
|
|
| Total | | 1,355
|
8 Mar 2002 : Column 631W
