§ Mr. David BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many in-depth interviews her Department has commissioned Reflexions Market Research Ltd. to undertake; how many(a) parents, (b) teachers and (c) governors will be interviewed; how long the interviews will last; and what level of remuneration the interviewees will be given; [22463]
(2) how many focus groups her Department has commissioned Reflexions Market Research Ltd. to undertake to evaluate publicity material on grant-maintained schools; how many (a) parents, (b) teachers and (c) governors will be involved; and what level of remuneration the participants will be given; [22462]
(3) to how many schools her Department has written, and in what areas, to introduce a representative of Reflexions Market Research Ltd.; [22461]
(4) how much it is costing her Department to employ the services of Reflexions Market Research Ltd. to research the effectiveness of the Department's grant maintained schools publicity material;
(5) how many (a) video tapes and (b) pamphlets her Department has commissioned through Reflexions Market Research Ltd. [22459]
§ Mr. ForthReflexions Market Research Ltd. has been commissioned to undertake qualitative research to assist the Department to evaluate its publicity material on grant-maintained schools. Research of this type is common to all of our major information campaigns.
Eighteen in-depth interviews are being carried out: six with teachers, 12 with governors and none with parents. The interviews average 45 minutes. There are nine focus groups which comprise 21 parents, 35 teachers and seven governors.
In line with industry practice, each interviewee receives a nominal sum to cover travel and any child care costs.
A range of schools were written to in Northamptonshire, London, Sheffield, Sutton, Surrey and Warrington to obtain interviewees. These areas were chosen to provide a representative sample.
The cost of the research is commercial-in-confidence. No video tapes or pamphlets were commissioned from Reflexions.