§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of school and college performance in 1999. [103195]
§ Jacqui SmithFull information on the performance in 1999 of schools and FE sector colleges in England was published recently in this year's school and college performance tables. The results in the tables show a clear trend of continuing improvements in the GCSE and GNVQ results of pupils in secondary schools and in the achievements of students in schools and FE sector colleges in GCE A levels and other advanced qualifications. The tables also show substantial and very welcome increases in the proportion of pupils at the end of their primary schooling reaching the level expected of them in National Curriculum tests.
The performance tables show what can be achieved by committed teachers and pupils, supported by effective national strategies. There is, of course, still much to do to reach our national targets for achievements in GCSEs and National Curriculum assessment by 2002, but we have the right foundations in place.