§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local education authorities involved in the work-related studies project, indicating in each case the value of the project and the progress in meeting their objectives. [140941]
§ Mr. WicksThe Department is providing funding to local education authorities in 2000–01 to support locally derived and delivered work-related learning projects under two initiatives:
810W
Key stage 4 demonstration projects grants in 2000–01 LEA £ Barking and Dagenham 18,000 Barnsley 25,000 Camden 28,000 Cheshire 31,000 Coventry 20,000 Croydon 20,000 Gloucestershire 28,000 Greenwich 12,000 Kirklees 15,000 Lewisham 24,000 Merton 24,000 Newham 22,000
Key stage 4 demonstration projects grants in 2000–01 LEA £ Sheffield 19,920 Shropshire 18,000 Southwark 20,000 St. Helens 14,000 Stoke-on-Trent 18,000 Trafford 18,000 Wigan 27,000 Worcestershire 20,000
Action research projects grants in 2000–01 LEA £ Barnsley 60,000 Coventry 61,000 Derbyshire 63,000 Devon 65,000 Dudley 50,000 Islington 65,000 Lancashire 65,000 Leicester 65,000 Manchester 65,000 Portsmouth 58,000 Rochdale 27,000 Sheffield 77,000 Solihull 65,000 Southwark 66,000 Tower Hamlets 53,000 Wakefield 60,000 Warwickshire 53,000 Wigan 65,500 York 50,000 The aim of the programmes is to develop work-related opportunities which are relevant to all 14 to 16-year-olds, but with the disaffected and underachievers a priority. The projects seek to encourage schools to pursue innovative approaches to vocational and work-related education that also help pupils make a successful transition to adult and working life.
An independent national evaluation is being carried out on these projects on behalf of the Department. The Key Stage 4 Demonstration Projects evaluation has been completed and the report is currently being made ready for publication. The evaluation found that projects made good progress against key objectives during the two years they were evaluated, with project participants showing improving attendance and behaviour and helping with attainment and progression.
The Action Research Projects evaluation is still under way, with outcome data being collected. This should be complete by the end of this year, with a report ready in early 2001.