HC Deb 30 November 2000 vol 357 cc809-10W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local education authorities involved in the work-related studies project, indicating in each case the value of the project and the progress in meeting their objectives. [140941]

Mr. Wicks

The Department is providing funding to local education authorities in 2000–01 to support locally derived and delivered work-related learning projects under two initiatives:

Key stage 4 demonstration projects grants in 2000–01
LEA £
Barking and Dagenham 18,000
Barnsley 25,000
Camden 28,000
Cheshire 31,000
Coventry 20,000
Croydon 20,000
Gloucestershire 28,000
Greenwich 12,000
Kirklees 15,000
Lewisham 24,000
Merton 24,000
Newham 22,000

Key stage 4 demonstration projects grants in 2000–01
LEA £
Sheffield 19,920
Shropshire 18,000
Southwark 20,000
St. Helens 14,000
Stoke-on-Trent 18,000
Trafford 18,000
Wigan 27,000
Worcestershire 20,000

Action research projects grants in 2000–01
LEA £
Barnsley 60,000
Coventry 61,000
Derbyshire 63,000
Devon 65,000
Dudley 50,000
Islington 65,000
Lancashire 65,000
Leicester 65,000
Manchester 65,000
Portsmouth 58,000
Rochdale 27,000
Sheffield 77,000
Solihull 65,000
Southwark 66,000
Tower Hamlets 53,000
Wakefield 60,000
Warwickshire 53,000
Wigan 65,500
York 50,000

The aim of the programmes is to develop work-related opportunities which are relevant to all 14 to 16-year-olds, but with the disaffected and underachievers a priority. The projects seek to encourage schools to pursue innovative approaches to vocational and work-related education that also help pupils make a successful transition to adult and working life.

An independent national evaluation is being carried out on these projects on behalf of the Department. The Key Stage 4 Demonstration Projects evaluation has been completed and the report is currently being made ready for publication. The evaluation found that projects made good progress against key objectives during the two years they were evaluated, with project participants showing improving attendance and behaviour and helping with attainment and progression.

The Action Research Projects evaluation is still under way, with outcome data being collected. This should be complete by the end of this year, with a report ready in early 2001.