§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many schools formerly recommended by the Service Children's Education Authority to parents in the armed forces who are considering educating their child under the boarding school allowance scheme have ceased to be so recommended in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Service Children's Education Authority does not have a recommended list of schools. The boarding school allowance is payable to parents for any school they choose which has suitable boarding facilities and which is registered with the Department of Education and Science. Parents do not have to consult the Service Children's Education Authority before choosing a school, but those who do receive personal advice based on the parents' individual needs and wishes.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the boarding school allowance for the academic years 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. StanleyThe actual expenditure on boarding school allowance for 1983–84 was £76.5 million. The estimated expenditure for 1984–85 is £77.7 million.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many pupils educated under the boarding school allowance at St. George's school, Great Finborough, Stowmarket, have changed their school from St. George's at a point in their education which was not the completion of a stage in their education in each of the last five years; 85W and in respect of how many of these children the boarding school allowance was (a) no longer paid by his Department, (b) reduced and (c) repaid in full or part by the parents as a result of the change of school;
(2) how many pupils educated under the boarding school allowance scheme have changed their school at a point in their education which was not the completion of a stage of education in each of the last five years; and in respect of how many of these children the boarding school allowance was (a) no longer paid by his Department, (b) reduced and (c) repaid in full or part by the parents as a result of the change in school;
(3) on how many occasions in the last five years officers of the Service Children's Education Authority has visited St. George's school, Great Finborough;
(4) when officers of the Service Children's Education Authority last visited St. George's school, Great Finborough, Stowmarket; what were their findings; and if he will make a statement;
(5) how many representations have been received by his Department concerning St. George's school, Great Finborough, Stowmarket during the last five years.
§ Mr. StanleyMy noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the armed forces will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of how many schools investigated by the Service Children's Education Authority following complaints from parents in the last 10 years a referral has been made to the Department of Education and Science; and if he will name the schools so referred in each of those years.
§ Mr. StanleyFormal referrals to the Department of Education and Science are not made by the Service Children's Education Authority. Instead, advice on standards is sought on individual schools from Her Majesty's inspectors. It is not the practice of Her Majesty's inspectors to publish the names of individual schools in respect of which they give advice.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many schools have been investigated by the Service Children's Education Authority as a result of reports from parents in Her Majesty's Forces of children at those schools of dissatisfaction with the school in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. StanleyComplaints from parents are one possible reason for a visit by the Service Children's Education Authority, but there are many others, such as the recent opening of a school, large numbers of service children, and requests from headmasters. In the past 13 months the officer responsible for giving boarding school advice has visited 81 schools. This represents a typical visits programme for the officer in this post. We have no record of the visits arising from complaints over the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the arrangemens that exist for children educated under the boarding school allowance scheme to change schools at a point other than the completion of a stage in their education.
§ Mr. StanleyThese arrangements are reviewed from time to time and a review is in progress at present. It is too early to forecast the outcome.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total number of each type of 86W school catering for the children of armed forces' personnel in Germany in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. StanleyThe total number of each type of school catering for the children of armed forces personnel in British Forces Germany is given in the following table:
Schools Primary Middle Secondary 1980 84 6 9 1981 82 6 8 1982 83 5 9 1983 81 5 8 1984 80 5 8
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the rate of GCE O-level and A-level passes per 100 of the appropriate age group in each of the last five years for which figures are available in (a) state schools in England and Wales and (b) British forces' schools in Germany.
§ Mr. StanleyMy noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will be writing to my hon. Friend.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many children have been attending British forces' schools in Germany in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. StanleyThe autumn term figures for each year are as follows:
Number 1980 28,563 1981 28,298 1982 27,636 1983 26,376 1984 24,845
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many teachers have been employed in British forces' schools in Germany in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. StanleyThe number of teachers employed in British Forces schools in Germany in the last five years are as follows:
Teachers 1980 1,666 1981 1,647 1982 1,564 1983 1,521 1984 1,430 Note: These figures include the full-time equivalents of a number of part-time locally employed teachers.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average expenditure per pupil in each of the last five years:for which figures are available in state schools in England and Wales and in British forces' schools in Germany on (a) books, (b) other equipment and (c) staff salaries.
§ Mr. StanleyI am able to answer this question only in respect of British forces' schools in Germany; state schools in England and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
87W
Average Expenditure (£) per Pupil in British Forces Schools in Germany Books Equipment Staff salaries and wages Teachers Others 1980–81 4.72 19.47 1,027 423 1981–82 5.30 19.96 1,080 289 1982–83 8.32 17.55 1,028 172 1983–84 11.89 28.29 1,084 194 Note: Comparable figures are not available for 1979–80.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of school leavers have gone on to university or polytechnic education in each of the last five years for which figures are available in (a) state schools in England and Wales and (b) British forces' schools in Germany.
§ Mr. StanleyI am able to answer this question only in respect of British forces' schools in Germany; state schools in England and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
For the period 1979–83 an average of between 10 per cent. and 12 per cent. of school leavers from service children's schools in Germany have gone on to university or polytechnic education.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average period of time spent by pupils in any given school by children of armed forces' personnel.
§ Mr. StanleyI regret that the information requested is not available. The inevitable turbulence of service life is undoubtedly a potential problem where children's education is concerned, and it is for that reason that various measures, including boarding school allowance, are available to assist stability of education.