HC Deb 04 March 2002 vol 381 cc39-41W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used by the HEFC to

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils have reached level 5 in Key Stage 3 in(a) English, (b) maths, (c) ICT and (d) science in each year since 1997. [38808]

Mr. Timms

The table shows the number and percentage of pupils in all schools in England who achieved Level 5 or above in the(a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) ICT and (d) science Key Stage 3 assessments in each year from 1997 to 2001.

The Key Stage 3 National Strategy, just begun, will support schools in raising standards in the early years of secondary education and improving on these figures.

However, it is not possible to identify the type of school that a student attended prior to entering higher education from a further education college. Therefore, the categories of institution shown do not equate directly to (a) schools with sixth forms and (b) schools without sixth forms.

Not all students who enter higher education do so directly after leaving full-time education at age 18; for example, some spend a period in employment before returning to study, and others take a gap year to broaden their experience. Around a third of young people enter full-time higher education by the age of 20, including those who enter at ages 18, 19 and 20.

determine those areas which qualify for postcode premium payments in connection with widening participation; and what the qualifying post code areas are. [38861]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 28 February 2002]: This is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of the Funding Council to reply to your question and to place a copy of his reply in the House of Commons Library.