House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 11 Mar 2004 (pt 29)

11 Mar 2004 : Column 1738W—continued

Pre-schools

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of the number of pre-schools in England; and if he will make a statement. [156698]

Margaret Hodge: My Department estimates that there were 10,100 pre-school or playgroups in England in January 2003. Provisional data for January 2004 will be published in May 2004.

11 Mar 2004 : Column 1739W

Pupils Attainments

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the changes in pupils' attainment in the early years of secondary schools over the past two years. [159819]

Mr. Miliband: The Key Stage 3 (KS3) National Tests are the main measure of pupils' attainment in the early years of secondary education. The 2003 tests, recorded the best ever pupil attainment at KS3, with improvements in every subject and at every level. Over the past two years the percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 or above has increased by four percentage points to currently stand at 69 per cent. in English; increased by five percentage points to reach 71 per cent. in mathematics and increased by two percentage points to stand at 68 per cent. in science. The percentage of pupils achieving Level 6 or above over the same period has increased by three percentage points in English to reach 35 per cent., six percentage points in mathematics to reach 49 per cent., and six percentage points in science to reach 40 per cent..

These achievements endorse the positive impact on pupils' attainment of the Key Stage 3 National Strategy which we introduced to raise the attainment of all 11 to 14-year-olds. Our priority now is to build on these gains to achieve even higher standards this year by further embedding the strategy, maintaining a focus on tackling under performance, and supporting teachers to personalise teaching and learning to meet the needs of individual pupils.

Recreational Adult Education

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision to prioritise some groups of adult learners in recreational adult education. [146316]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: There has been no decision to prioritise some groups of learners in recreational adult education. We gave a commitment in the Skills Strategy White Paper to safeguard the availability of lifelong learning courses by agreeing with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) an overall indicative budget for non qualification provision provided through local education authorities (LEAs), family and neighbourhood learning. This we have done. The figure for 2004–05 is £207.4 million compared with £206 million in 2003–04. This follows a period when the Government significantly increased the budget for this type of learning from £145 million in 2000–01, and £183 million in 2002–03. In November 2002, 662,000 adults were on predominantly non vocational and non qualification courses run through LEAs.

School Absenteeism (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many half-days have been lost owing to unauthorised absence of pupils in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each year since 1997 (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as a proportion of the total number of half-days. [158454]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the tables.

11 Mar 2004 : Column 1740W

Unauthorised absence in maintained Primary and Secondary schools in Greater London 1997/98 to 2002/03

Academic year 1997/98

Local education authority Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence % half days missed due to unauthorised absence

London, City of 976 1.92

Camden 78,679 1.46

Greenwich 172,048 2.00

Hackney 101,078 1.58

Hammersmith and Fulham 65,994 1.90

Islington 105,073 1.70

Kensington and Chelsea 41,502 1.74

Lambeth 88,978 1.34

Lewisham 150,844 1.83

Southwark 169,937 2.03

Tower Hamlets 184,708 2.19

Wandsworth 66,109 0.99

Westminster, City of 91,418 2.08

Barking and Dagenham 105,543 1.52

Barnet 77,882 0.65

Bexley 38,296 0.42

Brent 62,081 0.75

Bromley 54,438 0.47

Croydon 67,594 0.56

Ealing 84,732 0.86

Enfield 111,415 0.95

Haringey 128,095 1.64

Harrow 43,429 0.55

Havering 37,739 0.40

Hillingdon 97,442 1.05

Hounslow 77,565 0.92

Kingston upon Thames 24,577 0.51

Merton 80,513 1.39

Newham 281,582 2.51

Redbridge 58,420 0.61

Richmond upon Thames 26,734 0.50

Sutton 27,419 0.39

Waltham Forest 122,797 1.42

Greater London 2,925,637 1.16

Academic year 1998/99

Local education authority Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence % half days missed due to unauthorised absence

London, City of 870 1.62

Camden 80,643 1.47

Greenwich 164,721 1.84

Hackney 117,592 1.87

Hammersmith and Fulham 81,121 1.88

Islington 101,917 1.70

Kensington and Chelsea 44,302 1.72

Lambeth 74,782 1.11

Lewisham 146,376 1.77

Southwark 152,771 1.85

Tower Hamlets 144,803 1.75

Wandsworth 55,429 0.82

Westminster, City of 111,262 2.52

Barking and Dagenham 118,473 1.64

Barnet 82,707 0.70

Bexley 41,590 0.42

Brent 67,803 0.75

Bromley 55,152 0.47

Croydon 85,711 0.69

Ealing 78,697 0.78

Enfield 139,097 1.17

Haringey 132,103 1.66

Harrow 38,434 0.50

Havering 35,452 0.36

Hillingdon 111,820 1.15

Hounslow 85,135 0.99

Kingston upon Thames 26,861 0.55

Merton 81,051 1.35

Newham 279,864 2.34

Redbridge 59,335 0.59

Richmond upon Thames 39,226 0.71

Sutton 29,396 0.41

Waltham Forest 105,736 1.15

Greater London 2,970,232 1.15

	Academic year 1997/98
Local education authority	Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence	% half days missed due to unauthorised absence
London, City of	976	1.92
Camden	78,679	1.46
Greenwich	172,048	2.00
Hackney	101,078	1.58
Hammersmith and Fulham	65,994	1.90
Islington	105,073	1.70
Kensington and Chelsea	41,502	1.74
Lambeth	88,978	1.34
Lewisham	150,844	1.83
Southwark	169,937	2.03
Tower Hamlets	184,708	2.19
Wandsworth	66,109	0.99
Westminster, City of	91,418	2.08
Barking and Dagenham	105,543	1.52
Barnet	77,882	0.65
Bexley	38,296	0.42
Brent	62,081	0.75
Bromley	54,438	0.47
Croydon	67,594	0.56
Ealing	84,732	0.86
Enfield	111,415	0.95
Haringey	128,095	1.64
Harrow	43,429	0.55
Havering	37,739	0.40
Hillingdon	97,442	1.05
Hounslow	77,565	0.92
Kingston upon Thames	24,577	0.51
Merton	80,513	1.39
Newham	281,582	2.51
Redbridge	58,420	0.61
Richmond upon Thames	26,734	0.50
Sutton	27,419	0.39
Waltham Forest	122,797	1.42
Greater London	2,925,637	1.16

		Academic year 1998/99
Local education authority	Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence	% half days missed due to unauthorised absence
London, City of	870	1.62
Camden	80,643	1.47
Greenwich	164,721	1.84
Hackney	117,592	1.87
Hammersmith and Fulham	81,121	1.88
Islington	101,917	1.70
Kensington and Chelsea	44,302	1.72
Lambeth	74,782	1.11
Lewisham	146,376	1.77
Southwark	152,771	1.85
Tower Hamlets	144,803	1.75
Wandsworth	55,429	0.82
Westminster, City of	111,262	2.52
Barking and Dagenham	118,473	1.64
Barnet	82,707	0.70
Bexley	41,590	0.42
Brent	67,803	0.75
Bromley	55,152	0.47
Croydon	85,711	0.69
Ealing	78,697	0.78
Enfield	139,097	1.17
Haringey	132,103	1.66
Harrow	38,434	0.50
Havering	35,452	0.36
Hillingdon	111,820	1.15
Hounslow	85,135	0.99
Kingston upon Thames	26,861	0.55
Merton	81,051	1.35
Newham	279,864	2.34
Redbridge	59,335	0.59
Richmond upon Thames	39,226	0.71
Sutton	29,396	0.41
Waltham Forest	105,736	1.15
Greater London	2,970,232	1.15

11 Mar 2004 : Column 1741W

Academic year 1999/2000

Local education authority Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence % half days missed due to unauthorised absence

London, City of 1,024 1.93

Camden 73,343 1.38

Greenwich 140,254 1.59

Hackney 106,715 1.68

Hammersmith and Fulham 64,254 1.58

Islington 87,926 1.51

Kensington and Chelsea 28,882 1.24

Lambeth 67,732 1.06

Lewisham 177,815 2.06

Southwark 140,088 1.70

Tower Hamlets 175,273 1.97

Wandsworth 47,933 0.71

Westminster, City of 82,599 1.96

Barking and Dagenham 112,190 1.53

Barnet 92,733 0.80

Bexley 65,638 0.67

Brent 71,191 0.78

Bromley 55,696 0.46

Croydon 66,086 0.54

Ealing 74,619 0.74

Enfield 158,499 1.36

Haringey 158,098 2.11

Harrow 43,560 0.55

Havering 32,183 0.33

Hillingdon 115,132 1.13

Hounslow 80,178 0.93

Kingston upon Thames 29,328 0.61

Merton 59,500 1.01

Newham 251,543 2.14

Redbridge 70,426 0.71

Richmond upon Thames 51,160 0.93

Sutton 28,208 0.38

Waltham Forest 89,053 0.99

Greater London 2,898,859 1.12

		Academic year 1999/2000
Local education authority	Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence	% half days missed due to unauthorised absence
London, City of	1,024	1.93
Camden	73,343	1.38
Greenwich	140,254	1.59
Hackney	106,715	1.68
Hammersmith and Fulham	64,254	1.58
Islington	87,926	1.51
Kensington and Chelsea	28,882	1.24
Lambeth	67,732	1.06
Lewisham	177,815	2.06
Southwark	140,088	1.70
Tower Hamlets	175,273	1.97
Wandsworth	47,933	0.71
Westminster, City of	82,599	1.96
Barking and Dagenham	112,190	1.53
Barnet	92,733	0.80
Bexley	65,638	0.67
Brent	71,191	0.78
Bromley	55,696	0.46
Croydon	66,086	0.54
Ealing	74,619	0.74
Enfield	158,499	1.36
Haringey	158,098	2.11
Harrow	43,560	0.55
Havering	32,183	0.33
Hillingdon	115,132	1.13
Hounslow	80,178	0.93
Kingston upon Thames	29,328	0.61
Merton	59,500	1.01
Newham	251,543	2.14
Redbridge	70,426	0.71
Richmond upon Thames	51,160	0.93
Sutton	28,208	0.38
Waltham Forest	89,053	0.99
Greater London	2,898,859	1.12

Notes:

Figures relate to maintained primary and secondary schools but exclude maintained special schools and CTCs.

Figures cover pupils that were absent between September and May for each year

Unauthorised absence in maintained Primary and Secondary schools in Greater London 1997/98 to 2002/03

Academic year 2000/01

Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence % half days missed due to unauthorised absence

London, City of 470 0.85

Camden 77,860 1.48

Greenwich 151,560 1.74

Hackney 137,829 2.10

Hammersmith and Fulham 59,493 1.40

Islington 81,544 1.40

Kensington and Chelsea 40,208 1.56

Lambeth 78,000 1.19

Lewisham 201,480 2.44

Southwark 147,966 1.72

Tower Hamlets 176,825 1.97

Wandsworth 41,310 0.62

Westminster, City of 70,169 1.59

Barking and Dagenham 119,229 1.61

Barnet 107,497 0.90

Bexley 67,686 0.67

Brent 62,876 0.69

Bromley 82,593 0.69

Croydon 83,410 0.65

Ealing 58,368 0.58

Enfield 176,126 1.45

Haringey 137,481 1.78

Harrow 38,516 0.49

Havering 39,524 0.40

Hillingdon 91,964 0.93

Hounslow 91,588 1.08

Kingston upon Thames 22,032 0.44

Merton 49,034 0.87

Newham 233,181 1.93

Redbridge 75,684 0.73

Richmond upon Thames 66,817 1.22

Sutton 29,372 0.40

Waltham Forest 115,934 1.25

Greater London 3,013,626 1.15

	Academic year 2000/01
	Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence	% half days missed due to unauthorised absence
London, City of	470	0.85
Camden	77,860	1.48
Greenwich	151,560	1.74
Hackney	137,829	2.10
Hammersmith and Fulham	59,493	1.40
Islington	81,544	1.40
Kensington and Chelsea	40,208	1.56
Lambeth	78,000	1.19
Lewisham	201,480	2.44
Southwark	147,966	1.72
Tower Hamlets	176,825	1.97
Wandsworth	41,310	0.62
Westminster, City of	70,169	1.59
Barking and Dagenham	119,229	1.61
Barnet	107,497	0.90
Bexley	67,686	0.67
Brent	62,876	0.69
Bromley	82,593	0.69
Croydon	83,410	0.65
Ealing	58,368	0.58
Enfield	176,126	1.45
Haringey	137,481	1.78
Harrow	38,516	0.49
Havering	39,524	0.40
Hillingdon	91,964	0.93
Hounslow	91,588	1.08
Kingston upon Thames	22,032	0.44
Merton	49,034	0.87
Newham	233,181	1.93
Redbridge	75,684	0.73
Richmond upon Thames	66,817	1.22
Sutton	29,372	0.40
Waltham Forest	115,934	1.25
Greater London	3,013,626	1.15

11 Mar 2004 : Column 1742W

Academic year 2001/02

Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence % half days missed due to unauthorised absence

London, City of 169 0.32

Camden 65,294 1.25

Greenwich 165,470 1.86

Hackney 118,493 1.81

Hammersmith and Fulham 46,981 1.13

Islington 81,441 1.37

Kensington and Chelsea 31,389 1.26

Lambeth 69,059 1.05

Lewisham 152,961 1.84

Southwark 156,481 1.76

Tower Hamlets 163,020 1.83

Wandsworth 57,917 0.86

Westminster, City of 54,865 1.22

Barking and Dagenham 127,790 1.73

Barnet 91,524 0.78

Bexley 76,907 0.75

Brent 53,091 0.58

Bromley 86,441 0.72

Croydon 78,092 0.61

Ealing 55,691 0.55

Enfield 175,576 1.47

Haringey 156,948 1.93

Harrow 34,500 0.45

Havering 38,596 0.39

Hillingdon 104,817 1.04

Hounslow 88,872 1.04

Kingston upon Thames 19,697 0.39

Merton 38,326 0.69

Newham 213,733 1.78

Redbridge 78,596 0.74

Richmond upon Thames 64,402 1.23

Sutton 49,739 0.65

Waltham Forest 92,502 1.03

Greater London 2,889,380 1.10

	Academic year 2001/02
	Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence	% half days missed due to unauthorised absence
London, City of	169	0.32
Camden	65,294	1.25
Greenwich	165,470	1.86
Hackney	118,493	1.81
Hammersmith and Fulham	46,981	1.13
Islington	81,441	1.37
Kensington and Chelsea	31,389	1.26
Lambeth	69,059	1.05
Lewisham	152,961	1.84
Southwark	156,481	1.76
Tower Hamlets	163,020	1.83
Wandsworth	57,917	0.86
Westminster, City of	54,865	1.22
Barking and Dagenham	127,790	1.73
Barnet	91,524	0.78
Bexley	76,907	0.75
Brent	53,091	0.58
Bromley	86,441	0.72
Croydon	78,092	0.61
Ealing	55,691	0.55
Enfield	175,576	1.47
Haringey	156,948	1.93
Harrow	34,500	0.45
Havering	38,596	0.39
Hillingdon	104,817	1.04
Hounslow	88,872	1.04
Kingston upon Thames	19,697	0.39
Merton	38,326	0.69
Newham	213,733	1.78
Redbridge	78,596	0.74
Richmond upon Thames	64,402	1.23
Sutton	49,739	0.65
Waltham Forest	92,502	1.03
Greater London	2,889,380	1.10

11 Mar 2004 : Column 1743W

Academic year 2002/03

Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence % half days missed due to unauthorised absence

London, City of 0 0.00

Camden 55,645 1.14

Greenwich 166,073 1.85

Hackney 105,774 1.62

Hammersmith and Fulham 48,180 1.19

Islington 80,662 1.36

Kensington and Chelsea 24,846 0.97

Lambeth 62,317 0.92

Lewisham 136,429 1.57

Southwark 157,226 1.75

Tower Hamlets 138,820 1.56

Wandsworth 52,766 0.78

Westminster, City of 48,561 1.08

Barking and Dagenham 119,169 1.60

Barnet 87,718 0.74

Bexley 54,322 0.54

Brent 56,144 0.60

Bromley 87,561 0.73

Croydon 110,841 0.87

Ealing 48,907 0.49

Enfield 173,070 1.44

Haringey 143,333 1.75

Harrow 25,072 0.32

Havering 37,431 0.39

Hillingdon 111,853 1.10

Hounslow 95,439 1.11

Kingston upon Thames 17,616 0.35

Merton 41,819 0.77

Newham 150,900 1.29

Redbridge 76,663 0.73

Richmond upon Thames 56,648 1.09

Sutton 35,024 0.46

Waltham Forest 81,085 0.90

Greater London 2,687,914 1.03

		Academic year 2002/03
	Number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence	% half days missed due to unauthorised absence
London, City of	0	0.00
Camden	55,645	1.14
Greenwich	166,073	1.85
Hackney	105,774	1.62
Hammersmith and Fulham	48,180	1.19
Islington	80,662	1.36
Kensington and Chelsea	24,846	0.97
Lambeth	62,317	0.92
Lewisham	136,429	1.57
Southwark	157,226	1.75
Tower Hamlets	138,820	1.56
Wandsworth	52,766	0.78
Westminster, City of	48,561	1.08
Barking and Dagenham	119,169	1.60
Barnet	87,718	0.74
Bexley	54,322	0.54
Brent	56,144	0.60
Bromley	87,561	0.73
Croydon	110,841	0.87
Ealing	48,907	0.49
Enfield	173,070	1.44
Haringey	143,333	1.75
Harrow	25,072	0.32
Havering	37,431	0.39
Hillingdon	111,853	1.10
Hounslow	95,439	1.11
Kingston upon Thames	17,616	0.35
Merton	41,819	0.77
Newham	150,900	1.29
Redbridge	76,663	0.73
Richmond upon Thames	56,648	1.09
Sutton	35,024	0.46
Waltham Forest	81,085	0.90
Greater London	2,687,914	1.03

Notes:

City of London reported no unauthorised absences in 2002/03.

Figures relate to maintained primary and secondary schools but exclude maintained special schools and CTCs.

Figures cover pupils that were absent between September and May for each year

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