§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the projected annual costs of assessing pupils of too low an academic standard to take the formal tests; and what have been the actual costs. [25958]
§ Mr. ForthThe projected and actual printing and distribution costs of the national curriculum tasks for less able pupils are as follows:
£000 Projected 1994–95 Actual 1994–95 7-Year-olds 138.4 135.3 11-Year-olds 390.0 379.5 14-Year-olds 185.0 167.6 Totals 712.4 682.4 The costs of developing the tasks are not separately identifiable.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how much the total projected cost of funding supply cover during standard assessment test was (i) nationally and (ii) in Nottinghamshire schools for(a) seven-year-olds and (b) 11-year-olds. [25944]
11W
§ Mr. ForthThe projected costs for supply cover for teachers administering the national curriculum tests to seven-year-olds and tasks to seven and 11-year-olds are as follows:
- (i) (a) around £11 million (b) around £4 million
- (ii) (a) around £250,000 (b) around £90,000
Each local education authority is responsible for apportioning its total allocation to its schools.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the actual cost of funding supply cover during standard assessment tests (i) nationally and (ii) in Nottinghamshire schools for(a) seven-year-olds and (b) 11-year-olds. [25945]
§ Mr. ForthThis information is not available. Final figures on actual expenditure are not available until after the end of the financial year when the Department receives an audit certificate from local education authorities confirming expenditure for that year.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total amount that has been accepted in Government grants by schools to subsidise the cost of standard assessment tests. [25959]
§ Mr. ForthThis information is not available at present. Under the GEST programme, allocations are made to LEAs. Under GEST grant 2 for 1995–96, LEAs have accepted £15.3 million expenditure for supply cover of which 60 per cent. is payable in Government grant.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total amount that has been offered in Government grants to subsidise the cost of standard assessment tests. [25957]
§ Mr. ForthThe Department will provide about £9 million—60 per cent.— of the estimated £15 million needed for supply cover to support teachers administering the national curriculum tests to seven-year-olds and tasks to seven, 11 and 14-year-olds.