§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students continue into further education after their GCSEs: and what efforts the Government have made to encourage pupils to stay on at school after their GCSEs. [66156]
§ Mr. Stephen Twigg[holding answer 4 July 2002]: The post-compulsory staying-on rate in all forms of learning is 86.5 per cent. In 2001–02, of the total number of 16-year-olds. 71.2 per cent. continue to participate full-time in schools, sixth-form colleges or other colleges of further education, after the completion of their compulsory education. The latter figure includes some still studying GCSEs, but does not include those in part-time education or in work-based learning.
We want all young people to continue after the age of 16 in high quality learning opportunities which best meet their needs and potential. This will give young people a range of high quality, general mixed and vocational options with the aim of ending the culture of dropping out of learning at 16. In addition to the Connexions Service role the Learning and Skills Council have put in place a number of measures to provide the support and incentives young people need to take up and succeed in learning. We are introducing a range of initiatives to overcome financial obstacles to participation. One of these is the education maintenance allowance. which is available in a 997W third of the country. The impact of EMA on participation among eligible young people in the pilot areas has been to raise participation by six percentage points. We are presently considering responses to the 14–19 Green Paper "Extending opportunities, raising standards".
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of(a) colleges of further education and (b) sixth form colleges in
Sixth form colleges 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 No. of colleges with a trading deficit 37 36 48 18 Percentage of colleges across the total FE sector 8.33 8.14 11.27 4.30 Percentage of colleges of the same type 33.94 33.64 45.28 17.65 Other FE sector colleges No. of colleges with a trading deficit 148 141 159 94 Percentage of colleges across the total FE sector 33.33 31.90 37.32 22.43 Percentage of colleges of the same type 44.18 42.09 49.69 29.65 Notes:
1. Information for the financial year 2001–02 is not yet available.
2. Other FE sector colleges include general further education colleges, tertiary colleges, agricultural and horticultural colleges, art, design and performing arts colleges and designated colleges.
The further education sector is an important contributor to achieving our goal of a learning society. Further education colleges, including sixth form colleges, have a key role to play and we are continuing to increase our investment in this area. The Learning and Skills Council has procedures in place to identify colleges that have financial difficulties and will, as appropriate, give financial and practical support to enable them to implement effective plans to address these. However, prevention not intervention will be the aim.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of(a) colleges of further education and (b) sixth form colleges in England and Wales were in the Learning and Skills Council's weakest financial category at some point in each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [68513]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe number and proportion of colleges in England in the weakest financial category at some point during the financial year (1 August to 31 July) for the periods 1997–98 to 2000–01 is given in the table. Information on colleges in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
998W
Number in weakest financial category Percentage of colleges the total FE sector Percentage of colleges of the same type Sixth form colleges 1997–98 11 2.48 10.09 1998–99 8 1.81 7.48 1999–2000 8 1.88 7.55 2000–01 10 2.39 9.80 Other FE sector colleges 1997–98 84 18.92 25.07 1998–99 63 14.25 18.81 1999–2000 60 14.08 18.75 2000–01 70 16.71 22.08 England and Wales were trading at a deficit in each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [68512]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe number and proportion of colleges in England with an operating deficit (an excess of total expenditure over total income) in each financial year (1 August to 31 July) for the periods 1997–98 to 2000–01 is given in the table. Information on colleges in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
Notes:
1. Data for the financial year 2001–02 is not yet available.
2. Other FE sector colleges include general further education colleges, tertiary colleges, agricultural and horticultural colleges, art. design and performing arts colleges and designated colleges.
The further education sector is an important contributor to achieving our goal of a learning society. Further education colleges, including sixth form colleges, have a key role to play and we are continuing to increase our investment in this area. The Learning and Skills Council has procedures in place to identify colleges that have financial difficulties and will, as appropriate, give financial and practical support to enable them to implement effective plans to address these. However, prevention not intervention will be the aim.