Further Education (Hansard, 14 February 2001)

§ Mr. Boswell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how he plans to encourage and develop a sectoral response to issues in further education raised by the Further Education National Training Organisation's recent Skills Foresight report. [150079]

§ Mr. Wicks
My Department will discuss the Skills Foresight report with representatives of the further education sector.
We have already announced extra funding of £50 million in 2001–02 and £100 million in 2002–03 for further education teachers' pay. Proposals for using the money are expected to include improved pay and career structures for high calibre teaching staff. We have also announced our plans to require all new entrants to the FE teaching profession to gain an appropriate qualification, to boost continuing professional development for all staff, and to support increased training for prospective and serving college principals. This will be supported by up to £80 million from the FE standards fund for 2001–02.

§ Mr. Derek Twigg
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students in further education colleges in(a) Halton (b) Cheshire and (c) England and Wales failed to complete their courses in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [150293]

§ Mr. Wicks
Data for further education colleges are only readily available for 1997–98 and 1998–99 for FEFC-funded students in England and are contained in the following table.

FEFC-funded students in FE sector colleges in England 1997–98 and 1998–99

1997–98 1998–99

Withdrawn students¹ Total students Withdrawn students Total students

Halton District² 4,744 22,647 4,327 21,894

Cheshire³ 6,143 41,233 5,925 41,826

England 367,817 2,578,272 350,063 2,342,671

¹ Those students who do not continue to attend at the end of the qualification or the end of the teaching year (31 July), whichever is sooner (includes all programmes of at least 12 weeks in length).

² Halton District includes Widnes Sixth Form College and Halton College.

³ Cheshire includes West Cheshire College, Warrington Collegiate Institute, Macclesfield College, Mid Cheshire College of FE, Priestley College, Reaseheath College, Sir John Deane's College, South Cheshire College.

Source:
Individualised student record (ISR) 31 December 1998 (1997–98, IDR13); 31 December 1999 (1998–99, ISR 16).

FEFC-funded students in FE sector colleges in England 1997–98 and 1998–99
	1997–98	1998–99
	Withdrawn students¹	Total students	Withdrawn students	Total students
Halton District²	4,744	22,647	4,327	21,894
Cheshire³	6,143	41,233	5,925	41,826
England	367,817	2,578,272	350,063	2,342,671
¹ Those students who do not continue to attend at the end of the qualification or the end of the teaching year (31 July), whichever is sooner (includes all programmes of at least 12 weeks in length).
² Halton District includes Widnes Sixth Form College and Halton College.
³ Cheshire includes West Cheshire College, Warrington Collegiate Institute, Macclesfield College, Mid Cheshire College of FE, Priestley College, Reaseheath College, Sir John Deane's College, South Cheshire College.