§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to encourage more students to enter sixth form education within the Greater London area. [179032]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe Government are working on a number of fronts, and with a number of partners, to encourage more students into sixth form education, both in London and nationally. In London, the Government
have set out plans through the London Challenge to introduce 15–20 new sixth form institutions—whether as free-standing sixth form colleges, in schools or as autonomous centres in FE colleges—by September 2006;are introducing Educational Maintenance Allowances from September 2004. An evaluation of the EMA pilot found that 16-year-old participation in full time education increased by 5.9 percentage points amongst the eligible cohort, with greater increases in participation from boys and students from the lowest socio-economic groups;are working closely with partners to ensure a coherent approach to 14–19 provision, ensuring that it is diverse and is able to support learners irrespective of their learning needs; andare working with London's Learning and Skills Councils to help develop and implement Area Wide Inspection action plans for 14–19 provision, and a pan-London approach to Strategic Area Reviews, to ensure that the quality of provision is of the highest standard.