Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many sixth-form colleges work closely and directly in conjunction with other educational establishments catering for the 16-plus age range; and how many have no close institutional arrangements with such establishments;
(2) what is the average size of class at sixth-form colleges and in the sixth-forms of neighbouring conventional secondary schools for each of the following subjects: English, history, French, mathematics, physics and chemistry, respectively;
(3) what is the average number of classes in principle subjects taken weekly by lecturers in sixth-form colleges and by teachers in neighbouring conventional secondary schools; and what time is spent weekly on tutorial and other work in each case;
(4) how many sixth-form colleges offer CSE conversion courses; and how many students availed themselves of these courses during the last three academic years.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThis information is not available.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will prepare and publish an assessment of the work of sixth-form colleges.
§ Mr. ArmstrongNo. Sixth-form colleges are a fairly recent phenomenon and it is, as yet, too early to make a complete assessment of their work. Meanwhile Her Majesty's Inspectors maintain a close interest in these colleges and my Department is sponsoring a research project into the development of three of 485W them. It will be some time before any results are available.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many firm proposals he has agreed for establishing new sixth-form colleges.
§ Mr. Armstrong56 sixth-form colleges are already in operation in England. Approval has been given to statutory proposals for the establishment of a further 20.