HC Deb 30 April 2003 vol 404 c414W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2003,Official Report, column 818W, on pupil setting, by what measures his Department has encouraged the use of setting to meet the learning needs of more able pupils. [109021]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

Guidance to Excellence in Cities partnerships lists several approaches they might wish to consider, includingadopting setting in 'linear' subjects like maths, science and modern foreign languages, to make the teaching of the able pupil cohort more manageable. While setting gives able pupils the opportunity to work at a faster pace, it must be operated flexibly, so that pupils can move into and out of sets when appropriate".

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 3 April 2003,Official Report, column 818W, on pupil setting, what the frequency was of the use of setting in (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) modern foreign languages and (d) English at (i) Key Stage Two, (ii) Key Stage Three and (iii) Key Stage Four level in schools inspected by Ofsted in 2001–02. [109610]

Mr. Miliband

Data collected by Ofsted during school inspections shows:

Percentage of set lessons as observed by Ofsted during 2001–02
Percentage
Key stage 2 Key stage 3 Key stage 4
Mathematics 31 82 92
Science 3 59 86
Modern foreign languages 58 70
English 17 46 58