§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 to 16-year-olds spent one day per week or more at a further education college in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; how many will do so in 2003–04; and what research has been carried out to ascertain these figures. [87955]
§ Mr. Stephen Twigg[holding answer 19 December 2002]: In the academic year 2001–02 there were 5,500 students with academic ages 14 or 15, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, attending FE colleges part time. (Students with academic ages 14 and 15 have 35W actual ages between 14 and 16.) Data on the number of local education authority funded 14 to 16-year-olds in FE colleges is not collected centrally.
From September 2002, the Increased Flexibilities Programme enables schools, in partnerships with FE colleges, to offer pupils the opportunity of vocational learning through new GCSEs and part time placements in colleges. About 30,000 14 to 16-year-olds are participating in this programme for academic year 2002–03, the majority of whom will be spending some time in an FE college,
Money to fund a similar cohort is being made available for 2003–04 and 2004–05 as part of Success for All.
As part of the planned evaluation of the Increased Flexibilities Programme a baseline data collection exercise has been undertaken to ascertain the numbers of 14 to 16-year-olds on the programme, and the proportion of them spending time in FE colleges. Data on numbers of young people on the programme for 2002–03 will be available in February 2003.