§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) in how many secondary schools fewer than 15 per cent. of pupils achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE in 1999; [115291]
(2) what was the average improvement in science at Key Stage 2 in (a) schools in education action zones and (b) all schools between 1998 and 1999; [115293]
(3) what proportion of pupils in schools in education action zones obtained five A*-C grade GCSEs in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999; [115295]
(4) how many pupils were excluded from schools in education action zones, expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll, in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999; [115296]
(5) what was the rate of truancy of pupils in schools in education action zones, expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll, in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [115297]
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§ Ms Estelle MorrisThere were 126 secondary schools in England where fewer than 15 per cent. of pupils achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ in 1999. The average improvement, between 1998 and 1999 in the percentage of pupils achieving Level 4+ in KS2 science test was,(a) 12 percentage points in schools in those education action zones which began in 1998–99, and (b) 10 percentage points in all maintained mainstream schools in England.
The percentage of pupils who attained 5 A*-C GCSE/GNVQs in schools in those education action zones which began in 1998–99 was 20 per cent. in 1998 and 23 per cent. in 1999.
The permanent exclusion rate for schools in Education Action Zones was 0.25 per cent. in 1997–98. (This is the latest year for which data are available. Exclusion data for 1998–99 from the 2000 Schools' Census will be published in June).
The percentage of half days missed by pupils due to unauthorised absence in schools in Education Action Zones was (a) in 1997–98, 1.8 per cent. and (b) in 1998–99, 1.7 per cent.