§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure the continuation of A level examinations in Bengali; and if he will make a statement. [35350]
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to preserve Bengali as a GCE A Level subject. [35924]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the GCE Awarding Bodies agreed new cost-effective arrangements for safeguarding the
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1997 Key Stage 2 Reading Assessment Test Results percentage of eligible pupils Boys Level 3 and above Level 4 and above Level 5 and above Absent Average level LEA City of London 88 75 31 0 3.7 Camden 85 60 19 2 3.4 Greenwich 80 50 10 3 3.0 Hackney 78 49 10 3 2.9 Hammersmith and Fulham 83 58 16 2 3.2 Islington 80 56 15 3 3.1 Kensington and Chelsea 87 67 17 1 3.4 Lambeth 81 54 11 2 3.1 Lewisham 81 54 14 3 3.1 Southwark 79 49 9 2 2.9 Tower Hamlets 81 47 10 1 3.0 Wandsworth 83 57 15 3 3.2 City of Westminster 84 61 18 2 3.3 Barking and Dagenham 83 52 10 3 3.1 Barnet 89 68 22 1 3.6 Bexley 91 65 16 3 3.5 Brent 85 58 14 1 3.3 Bromley 93 75 26 1 3.8 Croydon 86 62 15 2 3.4 Ealing 86 59 15 1 3.3 Enfield 85 60 15 3 3.3 Haringey 80 52 12 2 3.0 Harrow 91 70 20 2 3.6 Havering 90 70 17 1 3.6 Hillingdon 88 65 16 3 3.4 Hounslow 83 57 14 1 3.2 Kingston upon Thames 89 72 24 1 3.6 Merton 82 58 16 2 3.2 Newham 78 46 10 2 2.9 Redbridge 87 63 16 2 3.4 Richmond upon Thames 93 76 29 2 3.8 Sutton 91 71 20 2 3.6 Waltham Forest 81 54 13 2 3.1 Birmingham 82 55 13 3 3.1 Coventry 83 59 12 2 3.2 Dudley 85 58 12 2 3.2 Sandwell 82 50 8 3 3.0 Solihull 91 69 21 1 3.6 Walsall 82 55 12 2 3.2 Wolverhampton 84 58 12 3 3.2 Knowsley 84 56 10 2 3.2 Liverpool 83 56 13 3 3.2 provision of a range of small entry subjects at A level, including Bengali, on 23 March. I understand that these arrangements will ensure that qualifications presently available will continue to be offered without interruption.