§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the educational attainment of school children in current and former coalfield areas compared with the national average in each year since 1997. [82251]
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§ Mr. MilibandThe information required on the educational attainment of 15–year-old pupils in current and former coalfield areas is given in the table:
Percentage of 15–year-old pupils attaining 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Coalfields—maintained schools 41.5 40.0 38.9 36.4 36.3 England—maintained schools 47.9 47.1 45.7 43.8 42.5 England—all schools 50.0 49.2 47.9 46.3 45.1 Note:
The definition of a coalfield area taken from the coalfields task force report, June 1998, is: a ward where 10 per cent. of resident males in employment at the time of the 1981 census of population were engaged in the energy and water sector. In these areas, this sector overwhelmingly comprises coalmining.
The information required on the educational attainment of seven, 11 and 14–year-old pupils in current and former coalfield areas is currently not available for the period requested. Achievement in coalfields areas for the whole period will be available in the new year as part of the Government-wide neighbourhood statistics project being co-ordinated by the Office for National Statistics. Once available the Department will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.