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61656

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Moor View
	tabling member printed	Alison Seabeck
	uin	200445
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Two parliamentary questions tabled to the Department for Education, PQs 198493 (tabled on 13/5/2014) and 198434 (tabled on 12/5/2014), did not receive substantive answers by the time of prorogation. The questions had reply on dates during prorogation, and therefore could not be answered due to the House's rules regarding notice periods.</p><p> </p><p>As a courtesy, both Members have been sent copies of the answers that they would have received had the Department been permitted to give the answers in the usual way.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:15:37 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1552 label Biography information for Alison Seabeck

60780

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Science: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) objectives, (b) governance, (c) intended duration and (d) funding of the Your Life campaign are; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
	uin	199618
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The main objective of the Your Life campaign is to increase the number of young people choosing A levels in maths or physics.</p><p>The campaign will be led by an independent organisation chaired by Edwina Dunn, and it will run for three years.</p><p>It will seek support and resources from leading employers and organisations. The Government has provided limited funds to establish a website and other set-up work.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:21:30 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

58287

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Curriculum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will introduce the teaching of the dangers of pornography into the school syllabus.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	199200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>Teaching about sex and relationship education (SRE) is already compulsory in maintained secondary schools, and academies are expected to provide SRE as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.</p><p>When teaching SRE, all schools must have regard to the Secretary of State's statutory guidance, which sets out that SRE should be age-appropriate. Schools should ensure SRE supports young people to develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgments and behaviour. Schools are encouraged to develop their SRE practice with the support of specialist organisations and expert professionals who are best placed to provide schools with up-to-date materials and advice on changing technologies.</p><p>Schools will welcome the new supplementary advice, ‘Sex and relationships education (SRE) for the 21st century', published recently by the PSHE Association, the Sex Education Forum and Brook. This addresses changes in technology and legislation since 2000, and will equip teachers to help protect children and young people from inappropriate online content, including the dangers of pornography, and from online bullying, harassment and exploitation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 10/06/2014 16:21:29 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

58104

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessments he has made of the successes and failures of the differing primary school starting age in other countries such as Finland and Norway.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	198993
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Formal school starting ages vary across OECD member states. However it is useful to compare the state provision of education for young children prior to the start of compulsory education as the majority of children in OECD countries have entered the education system at a young age - participation rates in formal childcare and pre-school are broadly similar across Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>Research indicates that most countries have published curricula governing the provision of early years education from the ages four to six years which are consistent in their use of learning objectives and expected outcomes. The Department has commissioned the OECD to carry out an international review of pedagogy and practice in the early years to investigate this issue further. We anticipate a report in autumn 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Research has demonstrated that all-round development is enhanced for those children attending nursery compared to those who don't before starting school. This suggests that attending a formal learning environment from an earlier age is typically beneficial. Furthermore duration in nursery matters, with every month of nursery experience after age two years linked to better intellectual development and improved independence, concentration and sociability at age five with a continued effect at Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>High quality early years education will help close the attainment gap that already exists by the beginning of primary school between disadvantaged children and their peers. Evidence is clear that children's learning and development in their early years is crucial to later attainment. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project found that high quality early years education is a strong predictor of achievement in English and mathematics later on in school.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot provide the information requested on representations on this topic. The Department receives a huge volume of mail and representations on education and children's issues. There would be a disproportionate cost to providing a response in this case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 198713 198715 question first answered 19/06/2014 16:37:47 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

58106

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has received from (a) researchers, (b) academies, (c) pressure groups, (d) parents and (e) people working in education on the appropriate age for children to enter primary education.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	198713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Formal school starting ages vary across OECD member states. However it is useful to compare the state provision of education for young children prior to the start of compulsory education as the majority of children in OECD countries have entered the education system at a young age - participation rates in formal childcare and pre-school are broadly similar across Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>Research indicates that most countries have published curricula governing the provision of early years education from the ages four to six years which are consistent in their use of learning objectives and expected outcomes. The Department has commissioned the OECD to carry out an international review of pedagogy and practice in the early years to investigate this issue further. We anticipate a report in autumn 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Research has demonstrated that all-round development is enhanced for those children attending nursery compared to those who don't before starting school. This suggests that attending a formal learning environment from an earlier age is typically beneficial. Furthermore duration in nursery matters, with every month of nursery experience after age two years linked to better intellectual development and improved independence, concentration and sociability at age five with a continued effect at Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>High quality early years education will help close the attainment gap that already exists by the beginning of primary school between disadvantaged children and their peers. Evidence is clear that children's learning and development in their early years is crucial to later attainment. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project found that high quality early years education is a strong predictor of achievement in English and mathematics later on in school.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot provide the information requested on representations on this topic. The Department receives a huge volume of mail and representations on education and children's issues. There would be a disproportionate cost to providing a response in this case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 198715 198993 question first answered 19/06/2014 16:37:47 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

58107

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of primary school starting age on (a) intellectual development, (b) social mobility and (c) results in (i) GCSE and (ii) A-level examinations.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	198715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Formal school starting ages vary across OECD member states. However it is useful to compare the state provision of education for young children prior to the start of compulsory education as the majority of children in OECD countries have entered the education system at a young age - participation rates in formal childcare and pre-school are broadly similar across Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>Research indicates that most countries have published curricula governing the provision of early years education from the ages four to six years which are consistent in their use of learning objectives and expected outcomes. The Department has commissioned the OECD to carry out an international review of pedagogy and practice in the early years to investigate this issue further. We anticipate a report in autumn 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Research has demonstrated that all-round development is enhanced for those children attending nursery compared to those who don't before starting school. This suggests that attending a formal learning environment from an earlier age is typically beneficial. Furthermore duration in nursery matters, with every month of nursery experience after age two years linked to better intellectual development and improved independence, concentration and sociability at age five with a continued effect at Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>High quality early years education will help close the attainment gap that already exists by the beginning of primary school between disadvantaged children and their peers. Evidence is clear that children's learning and development in their early years is crucial to later attainment. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project found that high quality early years education is a strong predictor of achievement in English and mathematics later on in school.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot provide the information requested on representations on this topic. The Department receives a huge volume of mail and representations on education and children's issues. There would be a disproportionate cost to providing a response in this case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 198713 198993 question first answered 19/06/2014 16:37:47 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

61666

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in summer months.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	200501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in the summer months.</p><p>However, research[1] carried out by the Department has demonstrated that the age at which tests are taken is the dominant reason for month of birth gaps in educational attainment, and not the age at which children start school; it is simply the fact of being younger when tested that accounts for most of the differences observed. The research reported no evidence of a causal relationship between school entry age and attainment.</p><p>Parents of summer born children who think their child is not ready to start school can request that their child is admitted outside of their normal age group and be admitted to reception year in the September following their fifth birthday. The school's admission authority is responsible for making the decision which must be based on the individual circumstance of each case.</p><p>[1]<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182664/DFE-RR017.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182664/DFE-RR017.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:32:29 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

57709

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pre-school Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free early years education places were provided in (a) Bury St Edmunds, (b) Suffolk and (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Bury St Edmunds
	tabling member printed	Mr David Ruffley
	uin	198568
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>Information on the take up of free early years places in Suffolk and England is shown in the table below.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Number of three and four-year olds benefitting from funded early education places[1]</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>Suffolk</p></td><td><p>England</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>14,960</p></td><td><p>1,158,760</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>15,140</p></td><td><p>1,186,370</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>15,450</p></td><td><p>1,224,470</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>16,100</p></td><td><p>1,264,420</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>16,200</p></td><td><p>1,283,500</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Source: Early Years Census (EYC), School Census (SC) and School Level Annual School Census (SLASC)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The data is not available at parliamentary constituency level and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The response covers the information requested for England only.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] Count of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year. Numbers of three and four-year-olds in schools may include some two-year-olds. Any child attending more than one provider will have only been counted once. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 10/06/2014 16:32:03 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	133 label Biography information for Mr David Ruffley

61668

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Official Visits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what visits each of the Ministers in his Department have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
	tabling member printed	Sheila Gilmore
	uin	200482
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department does not hold a list of ministerial visits and to compile a list would exceed the cost threshold.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:30:43 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	3965 label Biography information for Sheila Gilmore

57780

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	198866
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Education, my Right hon. Friend, the Member for Surrey Heath, Michael Gove, is responsible for a wide-range of issues which relate to a number of the key determinants of children's well-being as captured in the ONS' Children's well-being measures in the Measuring National Well-being Programme. These include policies designed to raise educational attainment, promote take-up of early years education, tackle bullying in schools and reduce child poverty.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 10/06/2014 16:25:08 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

58148

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	GCSE
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils have applied to be assessed for a GCSE grade on the basis of coursework under the 50 per cent rule in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
	tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
	uin	199136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Education recently received a letter from the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton on this issue, raising the case of a student in her constituency, to which he has responded. From time to time Ministers receive representations from members of the public, and from hon Members on their behalf, on the same matter.</p><p> </p><p>Neither the Department nor the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation holds information on the number of pupils who have applied to be assessed for a GCSE grade on the basis of coursework. This information may be held by individual awarding bodies.</p><p> </p><p>The rules governing the circumstances in which a GCSE grade may be awarded to a student who has not completed all the elements of the assessment are a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have therefore asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey to write directly to the hon Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 199134 199135 question first answered 10/06/2014 16:23:50 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

58149

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	GCSE
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations he has received on the 50 per cent rule whereby a GCSE grade may only be awarded for course assessment in the event of a student being severely incapacitated through illness; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
	tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
	uin	199135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Education recently received a letter from the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton on this issue, raising the case of a student in her constituency, to which he has responded. From time to time Ministers receive representations from members of the public, and from hon Members on their behalf, on the same matter.</p><p> </p><p>Neither the Department nor the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation holds information on the number of pupils who have applied to be assessed for a GCSE grade on the basis of coursework. This information may be held by individual awarding bodies.</p><p> </p><p>The rules governing the circumstances in which a GCSE grade may be awarded to a student who has not completed all the elements of the assessment are a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have therefore asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey to write directly to the hon Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 199134 199136 question first answered 10/06/2014 16:23:50 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

58150

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	GCSE
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will commission a review of the 50 per cent rule whereby a GCSE grade may only be awarded for course assessment in the event of a student being severely incapacitated through illness; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
	tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
	uin	199134
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Education recently received a letter from the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton on this issue, raising the case of a student in her constituency, to which he has responded. From time to time Ministers receive representations from members of the public, and from hon Members on their behalf, on the same matter.</p><p> </p><p>Neither the Department nor the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation holds information on the number of pupils who have applied to be assessed for a GCSE grade on the basis of coursework. This information may be held by individual awarding bodies.</p><p> </p><p>The rules governing the circumstances in which a GCSE grade may be awarded to a student who has not completed all the elements of the assessment are a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have therefore asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey to write directly to the hon Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 199135 199136 question first answered 10/06/2014 16:23:50 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

60914

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration his Department gives to the diversity policies and records of businesses or other organisations when considering their bid for commercial contracts or grants.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	199946
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>We take into account an organisation's diversity policy and record where it is relevant to the subject matter of the contract or grant and is permissible by law. Where the organisation is listed as a Crown Strategic Supplier, we would also approach the relevant Crown Representative as part of the appraisal.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:43:09 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

60915

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what targets his Department has for increasing diversity; and what progress has been made on meeting those targets in the last year.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	199925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>Whilst the Department for Education does not set explicit targets for increasing diversity, Management Committee monitors representation rates on a monthly basis.</p><p>The table below shows the change to the workforce over the past year:</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>May-13</p></td><td><p>May-14</p></td><td><p>Annual change (percentage points)</p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4"><p>Workforce</p></td><td><p>Black and minority ethnic</p></td><td><p>16.6%</p></td><td><p>16.6%</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Women</p></td><td><p>59.0%</p></td><td><p>57.8%</p></td><td><p>-1.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Disabled</p></td><td><p>11.7%</p></td><td><p>12.1%</p></td><td><p>+0.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>LGBT</p></td><td><p>4.0%</p></td><td><p>4.1%</p></td><td><p>+0.1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We also monitor the Department's representation rates at SCS against Civil Service 2013 targets:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Female</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>BME</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Disabled</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>DfE</p></td><td><p>CS target</p></td><td><p>DfE</p></td><td><p>CS target</p></td><td><p>DfE</p></td><td><p>CS target</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>SCS</p></td><td><p>44.1%</p></td><td><p>39%</p></td><td><p>5.4%</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td><td><p>5.7%</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Women (Director and above)</p></td><td><p>42.9%</p></td><td><p>34%</p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:48:59 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

61663

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Education: Basic Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure a high standard of teaching in numeracy and literacy.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	200344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>We have published a more rigorous curriculum for English and mathematics. The new national curriculum sets expectations that match those in the highest-performing education jurisdictions in the world, challenging pupils to realise their potential in an increasingly competitive global market. It increases the level of demand from an early age, with greater emphasis on arithmetic, including learning times tables to 12 x 12 by age 9 and removing calculators from key stage 2 tests in mathematics, and on phonics, grammar and vocabulary development in English. GCSEs in English language and mathematics are also being reformed to be more challenging and give stronger guarantees of literacy and numeracy, with the mathematics GCSE in particular covering more than the current GCSE.</p><p> </p><p>We are confident that our reform to the national curriculum will give teachers greater flexibility and freedom, which will help to raise standards and expectations for all pupils. It has been significantly slimmed down and will free-up teachers to use their professional judgement to provide support that best meets the needs of their pupils.</p><p> </p><p>We have invested in and reformed initial teacher training (ITT) to focus on attracting the very best graduates with the right qualities for teaching into the profession through making more scholarships available; using bursaries to attract more of the most talented graduates in key subjects such as maths and physics and supporting the expansion of the highly-successful Teach First programme. Teach First is now the largest graduate recruiter in any sector in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>In 2013/14, we recruited 96% of the overall number of trainees we set out to recruit and the proportion with first-class or 2:1 degrees has risen 3 percentage points (74%) – a record compared to last year (71%). We have raised the bar for entry into ITT by making skills tests tougher, limiting candidates to two re-sits and making passing the tests in literacy and numeracy a requirement before entering, rather than exiting, ITT.</p><p> </p><p>Sir Andrew Carter has been appointed to lead an independent review about the effectiveness of ITT. As part of this, the review will look at ITT courses for both primary and secondary teaching to consider how well trainees are equipped to become outstanding teachers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:27:54 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

60788

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Dominic Cummings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) dates and times and (b) purpose of all visits to his Department by Dominic Cummings have been since Mr Cummings resigned his post as a special adviser.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
	tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
	uin	199800
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>This information is not held. Mr Cummings is no longer employed by the Department for Education.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 12/06/2014 09:50:17 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

60911

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Disciplinary Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of staff within his Department who have been dismissed following formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	199903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>Our data does not record nationality; data held records only ethnicity.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:50:42 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

60916

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Disciplinary Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of staff within his Department who have been subject to formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	199882
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>Our data does not record nationality; data held records only ethnicity.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:44:09 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

60778

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Design: Teachers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what continued professional development assistance is provided to design and technology teachers.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
	uin	199612
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to raising the quality of teaching in all subjects, including Design and Technology (D&amp;T). Headteachers and teachers are best placed to make decisions about what professional development they require in order to meet the needs of their pupils and school. A network of Teaching Schools has been established to improve the capacity of schools to take the lead in the training and development of teachers and create more opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. The Teachers' Standards set a clear benchmark for the level of practice expected of all teachers, and provide a valuable tool to help headteachers and teachers identify and address development needs through regular appraisal.</p><p> </p><p>The D&amp;T expert subject group, set up to provide support to teachers implementing the new D&amp;T curriculum, comprises of leading professionals in D&amp;T who work to clarify the key areas on which teachers most need further support, identifying the topics that can present the greatest challenge when discussing with pupils. The group liaises with relevant specialists and providers to develop and produce new resources where necessary. DATA, in partnership with others, have developed a range of resources including an annotated programme of study, providing advice and explanatory notes on implementation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 16/06/2014 16:54:08 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

60783

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Design: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have (a) merged design and technology with art and design and (b) removed design and technology from their curriculum since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
	uin	199614
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department does not collect nor hold the data requested.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 16/06/2014 16:44:16 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

60777

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Design: Curriculum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what account he plans to take of (a) design and (b) technical knowledge in the review of the GCSE/GCE examination course in design and technology.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
	uin	199611
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The GCSE and GCE Awarding Organisations are leading on developing subject content for reformed design and technology qualifications. In carrying out this work, they are drawing closely on advice from subject organisations with design and technical expertise. The draft criteria that are developed will be formally consulted on and the evidence gathered will be used to review and finalise the content for the new design and technology qualifications.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 16/06/2014 16:34:35 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

60779

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Design: Curriculum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the review of design and technology GCSE/GCE examination specifications will bring those examinations in line with the revised national curriculum for design and technology.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
	uin	199617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The GCSE and GCE Awarding Organisations are leading on developing new design and technology GCSEs and A levels. They are ensuring that the content builds on and is in line with the revised design and technology national curriculum.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 16/06/2014 16:32:58 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

60781

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Design: Curriculum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the status and importance of design and technology at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and post-16; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
	uin	199615
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>Design and Technology (D&amp;T) is an important subject that can inspire young people to pursue careers in engineering and manufacturing. Ofsted's 2011 report ‘Meeting technological challenges' found:</p><p> </p><p>“Most pupils in the primary and secondary schools visited enjoyed designing and making products and gained much satisfaction in acquiring technical skills and in seeing their ideas take shape.”</p><p> </p><p>During the review of the national curriculum, the Government consulted industry representatives, such as Dyson and Royal Academy of Engineering, teachers, subject associations and D&amp;T specialists to ensure the new D&amp;T curriculum is relevant to the modern world. We have strengthened the technological aspects of the subject by including new and emerging technologies, placed greater emphasis on links with STEM subjects to provide a context for their practical application and we are also reforming D&amp;T GCSE and A levels to include more rigorous content and build on the changes made to the curriculum. The new qualifications will be more ambitious, with greater stretch for the most able and prepare young people better for the demands of employment and further study.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 16/06/2014 16:15:44 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

61427

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Day Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of childcare in the UK for a child aged (a) two and under, (b) three to four and (c) five and over; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	200175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education uses cost information from a number of independent surveys, such as the Family and Childcare Trust Annual Childcare Cost Survey 2014: <br><a href="http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-costs-surveys" target="_blank">http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-costs-surveys</a></p><p> </p><p>Their findings on the costs of childcare for children aged under two years old and those aged two years and over in England are shown in the tables below. The survey does not identify separately those aged five years and over.</p><p>It is encouraging to note that after 12 years of consistently rising prices, the costs of childcare in England have stabilised for the first time. In fact, once inflation is taken into account costs for the majority of parents have actually fallen. This means more parents are able to access affordable childcare and support their families.</p><p>But the Government is not complacent, and we are working to further increase childcare supply, which will further improve choice and affordability for parents:</p><p>a) More schools are opening their own nurseries for the first time, and we are establishing child-minder agencies to increase the number of child-minders available.<br>b) An increasing number of existing school nurseries are extending opening times from 8am to 6pm.<br>c) We are also making it easier for good nurseries to grow, by removing red-tape and planning restrictions.</p><p>The Government recently announced that the new Tax-Free Childcare scheme will be increased up to £2000 per child and extended to all children under 12 from September next year. This will help around 2 million families.</p><p>To help disadvantaged families, the Government has extended the 15 hours a week of funded early education already available for all three- and four-year-olds to include the most disadvantaged 20% of two-year-olds, and this will be extended further to 40% from September 2014.</p><p>The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) will provide nurseries, schools and other providers of government funded early education with extra money for disadvantaged three- and four-year-olds. The EYPP will be £50 million in 2015-16 and the Department for Education will consult on the details of the programme shortly.<br><br>And all families in Universal Credit will be able to receive 85% support on childcare costs, up from 70% under the current working tax credit system. This change will see 300,000 working families getting more out of the money they earn. More and more families will find that it pays to get a job, from taking the first few shifts back at work, right up to working full-time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Average weekly childcare costs for England</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Nursery 25 hours </strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Childminder 25 hours </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>Under two</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Two and over</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Under two </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Two and over</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Weekly cost<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>£110.95</p></td><td><p>£106.19</p></td><td><p>£100.74</p></td><td><p>£101.51</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><sup>1 </sup></strong>Source: Family and Childcare Trust Annual Childcare Costs Survey, 2014</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:54:10 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell