§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what aspects of the Connexions schemes in Cornwall, Devon and Lincolnshire focus on rural issues. [143261]
§ Mr. WicksBoth Cornwall and Devon, and Lincolnshire are involved in the piloting of the Connexions Service and are developing their business plans to be in the first phase of delivery of the new service from April 2001.
As part of the piloting of the service in Cornwall and Devon the Local Management Partnerships in both Cornwall and Devon are piloting aspects of a rural outreach service. The aim of this work will be a better understanding of the needs of young people in rural areas and a better targeting of resource towards those young
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Schools in the top 15 per cent. of 'most improved' schools in England, 1997 to 2000 (Performance Tables definition), with 50 per cent. or more of pupils 'known to be eligible for free school meals' School name Government office region Primary schools Elms Primary and Nursery School East Midlands Huntingdon Primary and Nursery School East Midlands Bosworth Primary and Nursery School East Midlands Southwold Primary and Nursery School East Midlands Newry Junior School East Midlands Kelvin Grove Primary School London Lawdale Junior School London Effra Primary School London Blue Gate Fields Junior School London Park Primary School London St. Alfege with St. Peter's Church of England Primary School London Queen's Park Primary School London Michael Faraday School London Woodberry Down Junior School London Brackenbury Primary School London Seven Mills Primary School London Arnhem Wharf Primary School London Brettenham Primary School London John Perryn Primary School London Mulgrave Primary School London Loughborough Junior School London Rhyl Primary School London Church Mead Junior School London Bangabandhu Primary School London St. James's and St. Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School London Tower Bridge Primary School London St. Anne Roman Catholic Primary School London The Beaumont School London Cardwell Primary School London people. Part of the work will explore cross-border working. The key agencies in the area, local communities and young people are all involved in the work.
The Lincolnshire pilot involves a number of strands of activity that take account of the rural nature of the county. For example, the project strand that is looking at the involvement of young people and parents has highlighted the need to bring the service to the client through good help-line services. There is also a particular rural dimension to the issue of raising aspirations in communities where most people earn their living from unskilled agricultural work. In the South Holland district, the prospective Connexions Partnership is involved in the rural action zone. One theme of this is a "rural academy" which aims to provide enhanced educational opportunities by linking the resources of a number of existing schools. Another is to provide laptop computers on free loan through local libraries to encourage the use of internet based resources and services.