HC Deb 21 December 2000 vol 360 cc267-8W
Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what aspects of the Connexions schemes in Cornwall, Devon and Lincolnshire focus on rural issues. [143261]

Mr. Wicks

Both Cornwall and Devon, and Lincolnshire are involved in the piloting of the Connexions Service and are developing their business plans to be in the first phase of delivery of the new service from April 2001.

As part of the piloting of the service in Cornwall and Devon the Local Management Partnerships in both Cornwall and Devon are piloting aspects of a rural outreach service. The aim of this work will be a better understanding of the needs of young people in rural areas and a better targeting of resource towards those young

Schools in the top 15 per cent. of 'most improved' schools in England, 1997 to 2000 (Performance Tables definition), with 50 per cent. or more of pupils 'known to be eligible for free school meals'
School name Government office region
Primary schools
Elms Primary and Nursery School East Midlands
Huntingdon Primary and Nursery School East Midlands
Bosworth Primary and Nursery School East Midlands
Southwold Primary and Nursery School East Midlands
Newry Junior School East Midlands
Kelvin Grove Primary School London
Lawdale Junior School London
Effra Primary School London
Blue Gate Fields Junior School London
Park Primary School London
St. Alfege with St. Peter's Church of England Primary School London
Queen's Park Primary School London
Michael Faraday School London
Woodberry Down Junior School London
Brackenbury Primary School London
Seven Mills Primary School London
Arnhem Wharf Primary School London
Brettenham Primary School London
John Perryn Primary School London
Mulgrave Primary School London
Loughborough Junior School London
Rhyl Primary School London
Church Mead Junior School London
Bangabandhu Primary School London
St. James's and St. Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School London
Tower Bridge Primary School London
St. Anne Roman Catholic Primary School London
The Beaumont School London
Cardwell Primary School London

people. Part of the work will explore cross-border working. The key agencies in the area, local communities and young people are all involved in the work.

The Lincolnshire pilot involves a number of strands of activity that take account of the rural nature of the county. For example, the project strand that is looking at the involvement of young people and parents has highlighted the need to bring the service to the client through good help-line services. There is also a particular rural dimension to the issue of raising aspirations in communities where most people earn their living from unskilled agricultural work. In the South Holland district, the prospective Connexions Partnership is involved in the rural action zone. One theme of this is a "rural academy" which aims to provide enhanced educational opportunities by linking the resources of a number of existing schools. Another is to provide laptop computers on free loan through local libraries to encourage the use of internet based resources and services.