§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency of Ilford, North, the effect of his Department's policies on Ilford, North since 1997. [164884]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe constituency of Ilford, North falls within Redbridge local education authority. Where the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) can or does collect information by constituency, it has been provided.
Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we disseminate information about the effects of our policies at a local level. We hope to have systems to facilitate this in place later this year.
Children, Young People and Families
Early Education
All 3 and 4-year-olds are now guaranteed a free, part-time, Government funded, early education place if their parents want it throughout England. We understand that the current early education participation rate in the Redbridge authority is around 68 per cent.
Child Care
There has been a major expansion in child care provision since 1997. We only have figures at local authority level. Since April 1999 we had created, by March 2004, over 3,200 new child care places benefiting over 5,800 children in Redbridge.
Children's Social Services
Children's social services in the constituency are delivered by Redbridge council which is a two star social services authority, with services for children and families assessed as serving most people well with promising prospects (as published in the Annual Review of Performance Reports, issued by the Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate).
Disadvantaged Area Programmes
Some of our key programmes for young children and families target the most disadvantaged communities. We have created three Neighbourhood Nurseries in the constituency with 136 new places. There are no Sure Start local programmes or Early Excellence Centres within the constituency. Redbridge intends to create four children's centres at least one of which is likely to be in Ilford, North.
Connexions
Connexions, the Government's front line support service for all young people aged 13–19, is providing advice, guidance and support to young people in Ilford, North constituency through East London Connexions Partnership. Since its launch in June 2002, young people aged 13–19 have had access to support and advice on a range of issues to help them participate and achieve in education, employment and training and to reach their full potential as adults.
526WYouth Services
Although not recently inspected by Ofsted, Redbridge Youth Service has used the findings of an independent inspection based on the Ofsted Framework and the Government's requirements within Transforming Youth Work to reconfigure the service during 2003/04. The 2004–05 plan, although still draft, demonstrates a commitment to achieving the performance measures required by Transforming Youth Work: Resourcing Excellent Youth Services.
Extended Schools
The Department is supporting the rollout of up to 240 full service extended schools by 2006, so that there will be at least one in each LEA area. Redbridge LEA will be developing one full service extended school from this year.
Schools
Recurrent Funding
The estimated1 increase in per pupil funding in Redbridge in real terms from 1997–98 to 2004–05 is £700 compared with the national average of £880.
Capital Funding
Redbridge LEA had an allocation of £13.1 million (including £3.2 million which is devolved directly to schools) for 2003–04 compared with £9.9 million in 1996–97. Redbridge LEA has been allocated £16.1 million for 2004–05. Some Voluntary Aided allocations have still to be included for 2004–05.
School Performance Tables
Key Stage (KS) figures can be found at on the DfES website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables
Class Sizes
The number of 5, 6 and 7-year-olds in classes over 30 has fallen from 2,331 in 1997 to 95 by January 2003.
Teachers
Since 1997 (to 2003) there are 370 more teachers (FTE), 429 more teaching assistants and 548 more support staff.
Specialist Schools
There are nine Specialist Schools in Redbridge LEA.
Beacon Schools
There are two Beacon Schools in Redbridge LEA.
Primary Strategy Leadership
10 primary schools in Redbridge LEA are part of the Primary Strategy Leadership programme this year. Additional schools will be selected by the LEA to enter the programme in 2004/05.
Leadership Incentive Grant
There is one secondary school in Redbridge in receipt of LIG, the Loxford School of Science and Technology. This is a high-performing school which receives LIG because more than 35 per cent. of its pupils are eligible for Free School Meals.
Behaviour Improvement Projects
All secondary schools in Redbridge LEA receive support from the Behaviour and Attendance strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy, including a behaviour audit and training materials and support from specialist LEA-level consultants. Primary schools in the area receive 527W support through the Primary National Strategy's Behaviour and Attendance Pilot, which includes a primary behaviour audit and curriculum and training materials with special focus on children's social, emotional and behavioural skills.
14–19 Education
The Government's strategy for 14–19 education and training, set out in "14–19: opportunity and excellence", will provide all young people with the opportunity to continue their education in different settings, including schools, colleges, and the workplace.
The impact of the 14–19 agenda on Ilford, North includes:
Strategic Area Reviews (StARs)
In April 2003, all local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) started strategic area reviews (StARs) of post-16 LSC-funded provision. These reviews aim to achieve the right mix of provision in an area to improve participation, raise attainment and improve learner choice. StARs will ensure that there is the breadth of opportunity and quality of provision to meet the needs of learners, employers and communities.
All local LSCs have been gathering information, reviewing provider missions, and consequently building an understanding of each provider's role and the provision on offer. The next step is to develop strategic options.
In the case of Ilford, North, and its local LSC, London East, progress is good and work continues with developing borough profiles and strategic proposals.
To support the StAR process, and to provide local providers with a clear understanding of what the local learning and skills priorities are, LSC London East are producing an over arching strategic framework document.
The LSC London East has, in addition to the StAR process, conducted a survey to test its assumptions about what young people, adults and employers want from education.
Vocational Provision
London East LSC currently has four work-based learning providers delivering vocational programmes in the constituency of Ilford, North.
Learners in the borough have access to all of the remaining 42 work-based learning providers in the London East portfolio. Within a reasonable travelling distance they can gain entry to over 40 occupational areas ranging from Accounting, Engineering, Childcare, Retail, Hospitality and Catering and Information technology.
Educational Maintenance Allowances
Redbridge is not an EMA pilot area. However the scheme has now been launched nationally and all eligible students in England can apply for EMA for academic year 2004/05.
Higher Education
The number of 18 to 20-year-olds entering full-time Higher Education courses, are as follows.
528W
Redbridge LEA Number 1997 1,317 1998 1,366 1999 1,389 2000 1,604 2001 1,648 2002 1,799 Adult Education
The Local Labour Force Survey shows that in Ilford, North:
The proportion of working age people qualified to at least level 4 rose from 17.4 per cent. in 1999 to 21.1 per cent. in 2002.The proportion of working age people qualified to at least level 2 rose from 59.5 per cent. in 1999 to 64.3 per cent. in 2002.The proportion of working age people without any qualification rose from 11.5 per cent. in 1999 to 14.7 per cent. in 2002.The proportion of working age people who received job related training in the last four weeks has fallen from 12.3 per cent. in 1999 to 9.4 per cent. in 2002.1Includes provisional estimates of grants and allocations still to be confirmed. Total funding per pupil aged 3–19 includes Education Formula Spending (EFS) and all relevant grants in the DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits but, for comparability, exclude the pensions transfer to Learning and Skills Council and EFS in 2003–04 and 2004–05. Real terms at 2002–03 prices.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newcastle East and Wallsend constituency, the effects on Newcastle, East and Wallsend of his Department's policies and actions since 1997. [166879]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe constituency of Newcastle Upon Tyne, East and Wallsend covers part of both Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside local education authorities. Where the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) can or does collect information by constituency, it has been provide
Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we disseminate information about the effects of our policies at a local level. We hope to have systems to facilitate this in place later this year.
Children, Young People and Families Early Education
All 3 and 4-year-olds are now guaranteed a free, part-time, Government funded early education place if their parents want it throughout England. We understand that the current early education participation rate in the Newcastle upon Tyne authority is around 100 per cent. and in the North Tyneside authority 94 per cent.
Child Care
There has been a major expansion in child care provision since 1997. We only have figures at local authority level, but at March 2004 we had created over 4,200 new child care places since April 1999, benefiting over 7,500 children, in Newcastle upon Tyne, and over 4,300 new places benefiting over 7,700 children in North Tyneside.
529WChildren's Social Services
Children's social services in the constituency are delivered by two councils—Newcastle and North Tyneside. Newcastle is a three star social services authority with services for children and families assessed as serving most children well with excellent prospects. North Tyneside is a one star council with services for children and families assessed as serving some children well with promising prospects. These judgments are set out in the annual review of Performance Ratings for Social Services in England published by the Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate in November 2003.
Disadvantaged Area Programmes
Some of our key programmes for young children and families target the most disadvantaged communities. The constituency contains three Sure Start local programmes, two in Newcastle (West Walker and Fossway) and one in North Tyneside (Wallsend). The West Walker programme is also linked to the Walkergate Early Years Centre Early Excellence Centre. Wallsend and West Walker also have Neighbourhood Nurseries which, along with another two standalone projects, have created 131 new places in the constituency. Both authorities are now working on their plans for children's centres which will build on this existing provision. Newcastle upon Tyne intends to create nine centres and North Tyneside six, two of which have already been designated.
Connexions
Connexions, the Government's front line support service for all young people aged 13–19, is providing advice, guidance and support to young people in Newcastle Upon Tyne, East and Wallsend constituency through Tyne and Wear Connexions Partnership. Since its launch in April 2002 young people aged 13–19 have had access to support and advice on a range of issues to help them participate and achieve in education, employment and training and to reach their full potential as adults.
Youth Services
There are two local authority youth services in Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend: Newcastle; and North Tyneside. Both services have been subject to Ofsted inspections in recent years, and in both significant weaknesses were found. But both local authorities have responded positively, increasing their investment in their youth services. They have also revised and updated many of their procedures and have fully embraced the Transforming Youth Work agenda.
Extended Schools
The Department is supporting the rollout of up to 240 full service extended schools by 2006, so that there will be at least one in each LEA area. Benfield School in Newcastle LEA has been developing as a full service extended school from 2003–04.
Schools Recurrent Funding
The estimated1 increase in per pupil funding in real terms from 1997–98 to 2004–05 is £920 in Newcastle upon Tyne and £940 in North Tyneside compared with the national average of £880.
530WCapital Funding
North Tyneside LEA had an allocation of £11.5 million (including £2.6 million which is devolved directly to schools, £2.4 million in targeted Capital funding and £0.5 million in VA Targeted Capital funding) for 2003–04 compared with £1.4 million in 1996–97. North Tyneside LEA has been allocated £6.7 million for 2004–05. Some Voluntary Aided (VA) allocations have still to he included for 2004–05.
Newcastle LEA had an allocation of £16.3 million (including £3.4 million which is devolved directly to schools and £5 million for VA Targeted Capital funding) for 2003–04 compared with £1.0 million in 1996–97. Newcastle LEA has been allocated £69.7 million for 2004–05 (including 360 million in PFI credits). Some VA allocations have still to be included for 2004–05.
School Performance Tables
Key Stage (KS) figures can be found at on the DIES website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables
Class Sizes
In North Tyneside LEA the number of 5, 6 and 7-year-olds in classes over 30 has fallen from 2,183 in 1997 to 0 by January 2003.
In Newcastle upon Tyne LEA the number of 5, 6 and 7-year-olds in classes over 30 has fallen from 2,964 in 1997 to 63 by January 2003.
Teachers
In North Tyneside LEA the number of teachers (FTE from 1997 to 2003) is unchanged. However there are 110 more teaching assistants than in 1997 and 345 more support staff than in 1997.
In Newcastle LEA the number of teachers has risen by 50 (FTE from 1997 to 2003). However there are 246 more teaching assistants than in 1997 and 434 more support staff than in 1997.
Specialist Schools
There are eight specialist schools in Newcastle upon Tyne LEA and seven specialist schools in North Tyneside LEA.
Beacon Schools
There are six beacon schools in Newcastle upon Tyne LEA and eight beacon schools in North Tyneside LEA.
Primary Strategy Leadership
17 primary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne LEA and 13 primary schools in North Tyneside LEA are part of the Primary Strategy Leadership programme this year. Additional schools will be selected by the LEAs to enter the programme in 2004/05.
Leadership Incentive Grant
There are 11 secondary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne in receipt of LIG and 11 secondary schools in North Tyneside in receipt of LIG. All are eligible for LIG because they are part of the Excellence in Cities programme.
Behaviour Improvement Projects
All secondary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside receive support from the Behaviour and Attendance strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy, including a behaviour audit and training materials and support from specialist LEA—level consultants. In addition, four secondary schools and 27 primary 531W schools in Newcastle upon Tyne and four secondary schools and 15 primary schools in North Tyneside participate in the Behaviour Improvement Programme, which provides more intensive support for schools facing the greatest challenges.
14–19 Education
The Government's strategy for 14–19 education and training, set out in "14–19: opportunity and excellence", will provide all young people with the opportunity to continue their education in different settings, including schools, colleges, and the workplace.
The impact of the 14–19 agenda on Newcastle Upon Tyne, East and Wallsend includes:
16–19 Area Inspection (14–19 from March 2003)
16–19 Area Inspections were introduced in 1999 as a key means of securing improvements in learning for young people. Both Newcastle Upon Tyne and North Tyneside have had a 16–19 area inspection, copies of their Ofsted reports can be found on their website www.ofsted.gov.uk.
With Tyne and Wear LSC in the lead, local partners have developed Action Plans for both areas, which have been accepted by Ministers. Tyne and Wear LSC are responsible for the implementation of both action plans, which are still ongoing.
In the autumn, Newcastle will under-go a further Area Inspection of 14–19 learning which will be undertaken jointly by Ofsted and the ALI. The LSC Tyne and Wear and the LEA will be jointly asked, along with local partners to prepare and implement an Action Plan, following the 14–19 Area Inspection.
Strategic Area Reviews (StARs)
In April 2003, all local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) started strategic area reviews (StARs) of post-16 LSC-funded provision. These reviews aim to achieve the right mix of provision in an area to improve participation, raise attainment and improve learner choice. StARs will ensure that there is the breadth of opportunity and quality of provision to meet the needs of learners, employers and communities.
All local LSCs have been gathering information, reviewing provider missions, and consequently building an understanding of each provider's role and the provision on offer.
In LSC Tyne and Wear's area there were five 16–19 area wide inspections between spring 2000 and spring 2002, including for Newcastle and North Tyneside (the local authority areas in which the constituency of Newcastle East and Wallsend falls). As a result of these inspections both authorities, in conjunction with the local LSC and many other partners in the Learning Partnerships, produced and are now implementing 14–19 strategies. The objectives of these strategies align perfectly with that of the LSC's Strategic Area Review process.
In both authorities, learning providers work in partnership on a wide range of learning issues, to deliver a learner entitlement for all young people. Over the last three years both authorities have seen an upward trend in participation and attainment at both GCSE and post-16 levels.
532WThe StAR process for LSC Tyne and Wear in relation to 14–19 provision is, therefore, one which builds on this effective partnership work, rather than proposing structural reorganisation.
Vocational Provision
Learners in Newcastle have easy access within the city to 21 work-based learning providers delivering a wide range of vocational programmes covering occupational areas/sectors which are significant to the sub-regional economy including Business and Administration, Construction, Engineering, Health and Care, Hospitality, ICT, Retail. These programmes are available at a range of levels, from Entry to Employment through Foundation Modern Apprenticeships to Advanced Modern Apprenticeships and, increasingly, to 14–16 learners as part of their individual learning programme.
Four work-based learning providers are based in North Tyneside offering Business Administration, Construction, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality and Catering programmes, as well as a very significant amount of Entry to Employment programmes and provision for learners with learning difficulties. Like Newcastle the provision in North Tyneside is appropriate for employment opportunities in the Tyne and Wear area.
In the compact sub-region which comprises LSC Tyne and Wear learners from both of these local authority areas have access to more than 60 providers of work-based opportunities.
Educational Maintenance Allowances
There is one Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilot area in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend. The pilot scheme has been in operation in North Tyneside since September 2000. In its first year the EMA provided financial support for 800 students and in each subsequent year 1,500 students have benefited from the scheme. In the financial year 2003–04 a total of £1.3 million in EMA payments were made for eligible students living in North Tyneside.
The scheme has now been launched nationally and all eligible students in England can apply for EMA for academic year 2004/05.
Higher Education
The number of 18 to 20-year-olds entering full-time Higher Education courses, are as follows:
Newcastle upon Tyne LEA North Tyneside LEA 1997 826 746 1998 925 772 1999 956 821 2000 1,001 769 2001 1,242 698 2002 1,269 651 Adult Education
The Local Labour Force Survey shows that in Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend:
The proportion of working age people qualified to at least level 4 rose from 15.8 per cent. in 1999 to 21.1 per cent. in 2002.The proportion of working age people qualified to at least level 2 has fallen from 65.2 per cent. in 1999 to 62.7 per cent. in 2002.The proportion of working age people without any qualifications rose from 18.3 per cent. in 1999 to 19.4 per cent. in 2002.533WThe proportion of working age people who received job related training in the last four weeks rose from 7.5 per cent. in 1999 to 12.5 per cent. in 2002.1Includes provisional estimates of grants and allocations still to be confirmed. Total funding per pupil aged 3–19 includes Education Formula Spending (EPS) and all relevant grants in the DfES departmental Expenditure Limits but, for comparability, exclude the pensions transfer to Learning and Skills Council and EPS in 2003–04 and 2004–05. Real terms at 2002–03 prices.