§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the progress made towards his Department's targets on(a) reducing the number of secondary schools classed as failing, (b) reducing school truancies and (c) ensuring that all permanently excluded pupils obtain an appropriate full-time education. [81077]
§ Mr. Stephen Twigg[holding answer 18 November 2002]
(a)Significant progress has been made in tackling failure. The number of secondary schools classed as failing has declined and continues to do so. There are currently 51 secondary schools requiring special measures compared with 90 schools in summer 1998.(b)The Department's Public Service Agreement target is to reduce school truancies by 10 per cent by 2004 compared to the 2002 rate, sustain the new lower level, and improve overall attendance levels thereafter. The Department's Statistical First Release showing school absence for the 2001/02 school year published on 9 October 2002 shows the national rate of unauthorised absence to be 0.7 per cent, of half days missed(c)All Local Education Authorities have said that they would be able to provide suitable full time education to all permanently excluded pupils from September 2002. Officials are currently conducting a survey to ensure that this target has been met.