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Friday 8 February 2002
Burns Report Mr Weir asked the Minister of Education how much of his budget has been allocated to the consultation process on the Burns Report. (AQW 1534/01) The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): It is important that the public are aware of the Burns proposals and have an opportunity to comment on them or offer alternative proposals. Consultation costs, including publication and distribution of the Review Body’s Report, the production of a video, and the issue of a pamphlet to every household, are expected to total some £600,000 over 2001/02 and 2002/03. I also intend to publish a summary of the consultation outcomes – costs have not yet been estimated.
Burns Report Mr Weir asked the Minister of Education whether or not the Burns Report represents his policy on the future of secondary education. (AQW 1536/01) Mr M McGuinness: No decisions will be taken until I have considered responses to the consultation. The Burns Report constitutes an important and detailed set of proposals on possible future arrangements. I have made it clear that I want views on new post-primary arrangements which may be the Burns proposals; some modification of the Burns proposals; or alternative arrangements.
Physical Education Mr M Robinson asked the Minister of Education what plans he has to ensure that sport is given a higher priority in the school curriculum. (AQW 1550/01) Mr M McGuinness: Physical Education is compulsory within the Northern Ireland curriculum for all pupils from age 4 to 16 and this shows the degree of importance which is attached to the subject. All children are encouraged to participate in a wide range of PE and sports activities in schools and in the wider community. The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) is currently carrying out a review of the curriculum and PE is being considered as part of this review.
Autism Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Education who will be developing videos for parents of children with autism and dyslexia and CD-ROMs for their teachers, as agreed at the NSMC Education sectoral meeting on 28 November 2001. (AQW 1554/01) Mr M McGuinness: A DE-led, cross-border steering group, comprising officials from the Departments of Education, North and South, and representatives of the voluntary organisations, Parents And Professionals Autism, (PAPA) and the Irish Society for Autism, (ISA), has been established. This group is taking forward both the video and CD-ROM projects. A PAPA-led project team will involve parents and professionals, North and South, in the development of a video in conjunction with Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). The video for parents will provide a level of support of newly diagnosed children and teachers, who may find children with autism in their mainstream classroom. A CD-ROM for professionals will be produced in 2002/03. This will be subject to a competitive tendering process and will be managed by PAPA. Timescales indicate that the video and CD-ROM will be available for distribution in September. A similar project in relation to Dyslexia will be led by the Department for Education and Science and will include representatives from North and South.
Inter-Board Numeracy Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the materials produced to help children improve their mathematics skills as discussed at the NSMC Education sectoral meeting on 28 November 2001; (b) who produced the materials; and (c) who was consulted in producing the materials. (AQW 1555/01) Mr M McGuinness: The materials for schools were produced on foot of an action research project, carried out on behalf of the Inter Board Numeracy Strategy Steering Group. The aim was the development of strategies for success in numeracy in the early years of statutory education and the materials were developed in co- operation with teachers in the 10 participating primary schools.
Female Primary School Teachers Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education how many female primary school teachers are employed in each Education Board area. (AQW 1582/01) Mr M McGuinness: The number of permanent full-time and part-time female primary school teachers employed in each Education and Library Board area is as follows:
Male Primary School Teachers Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education how many male primary school teachers are employed in each Education Board area. (AQW 1585/01) Mr M McGuinness: The number of permanent full-time and part-time male primary school teachers employed in each Education and Library Board area is as follows
Burns Report Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Education to detail the estimated cost of (a) printing; and (b) distributing an exploratory leaflet on the Burns Report to every household, as indicated in his press release of 17 January 2002. (AQW 1607/01) Mr M McGuinness: The explanatory leaflet will include a freepost response form and is designed to ensure that everyone is aware of the Burns proposals and has an opportunity to comment on them or suggest modifications or alternative proposals for post-primary education. The estimated costs of printing and distribution to every household are
Board of Governors Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to outline (a) why is there a difference in the number of members appointed to the Board of Governors of a Controlled Primary School compared with Controlled Integrated Primary Schools; and (b) in the event that there is a choice in the numbers appointed, who is responsible for choosing that particular number. (AQW 1619/01) Mr M McGuinness: (a) The process to allow certain categories of existing schools to transform to Controlled Integrated Status was introduced in the Education (NI) Order 1984. The legislation specified that the Board of Governors for Controlled Integrated schools should have either 14 or 21 members. Boards of Governors for Controlled Primary Schools may have 9, 16 or 24 members. The increase in the minimum number of Governors on the Board of a Controlled Integrated School was to provide for representatives of the Trustees of Catholic Maintained Schools in the area and to provide for balance between the two main traditions in nominations of the other representative bodies. The following table compares representation on the Board of Governors in Controlled and Controlled Integrated Schools.
(b) The size of the Board of Governors of controlled schools is determined by the Education and Library Board.
Psychologists Mr M Robinson asked the Minister of Education how many educational psychologists are employed in each Education Board area. (AQW 1650/01) Mr M McGuinness: The number of educational psychologists currently employed in each Education and Library Board area is as follows: -
Pre-School Education Mr G Kelly asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the latest enrolment statistics for funded pre- school education in the constituency of North Belfast, and of those, (b) the number of children in receipt of free school meals whose parents receive Income Support or Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance. (AQW 1679/01) Mr M McGuinness: (a) The 2000/01 enrolments are as follows:
Overall enrolments for 2001/02 are not yet available. Of the children at (a) above, the number entitled to free school meals and the number whose parents receive Income Support or Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance are as follows:
1 At the time of first application for admission. Down High School: Accommodation Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education what action is he taking to improve accommodation at Down High School. (AQW 1680/01) Mr M McGuinness: I refer the Member to my response to her previous AQW 1495/01.
Down High School: Accommodation Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education what steps will he take to replace the temporary accommodation at Down High School. (AQW 1683/01) Mr M McGuinness: I refer the Member to my response to her previous AQW 1495/01.
2001/02 Enrolments: North Down Mr Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the number of pupils enrolled at each primary school in the North Down constituency; and (b) the number of Primary One pupils in these schools for the academic year beginning September 2001. (AQW 1690/01) Mr M McGuinness: (a) The 2001/02 enrolments are as follows:
(b) The Year 1 enrolments are as follows:
Exam Results: Appeals Mr M Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail, for each year since 1995, (a) the number of GCSE and A Level exam results which have been appealed; and (b) the number of appeals upheld. (AQW 1700/01) Mr M McGuinness:
1 Provisional figures - to be reported formally by QCA later in 2002. Equivalent information for 1995 and 1996 is not available. Educational Needs: "At Risk" Children Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education what additional funding is he providing this year to meet the educational needs of looked-after children. (AQW 1708/01) Mr M McGuinness: No additional funds specifically ear marked to meet the educational needs of looked- after children have been provided this year. Additional funding has been made available for programmes to support young people ‘at risk’ in the education sector and participants may include looked after children. My Department, together with DHSS&PS, is funding research into the educational experiences of looked-after children. Additional resources have been made available from the Executive Programme Children’s Fund to provide educational support to children in residential settings and these are being managed by DHSS&PS.
Suspensions and Expulsions: Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the numbers of looked-after children, in 2000-01, who were (a) excluded; (b) expelled from school; and (c) to express the figures as a ratio of all schoolchildren. (AQW 1709/01) Mr M McGuinness: The information sought is not available. Schools are not asked to identify looked- after children in their notifications to the Education and Library Boards about suspensions or proposed expulsions and there are no plans to do this.
Research Briefing Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost of each research briefing undertaken, on behalf of his Department, since 1998 and to indicate, in each case, the research body involved. (AQW 1711/01) Mr M McGuinness: Details of the research projects for which a Research Briefing has been published by my Department since 1998 are as follows:
Counselling Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of the pilot Schools Counselling and Support Service; and to make a statement on the possible extension of this service to all schools. (AQW 1712/01) Mr M McGuinness: I welcome the initiative taken by the NSPCC in collaboration with the SEELB and WELB to establish pilot counselling for pupils projects in those areas and I look forward to reading the evaluation report in due course. Counselling support will be extended on a limited basis to all Board areas during 2002-03 with resources provided from the Executive Programme Children’s Fund.
Dundonald Primary School Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) his plans for the redevelopment of Dundonald Primary School; and (b) the timescale for the commencement of any such work; and to make a statement. (AQW 1729/01) Mr M McGuinness: The Economic Appraisal prepared by the SEELB which examines various options for meeting the accommodation needs of Dundonald Primary School is currently being revised in liaison with my Department. Completion of this document will ensure that the scheme can be considered along with others for inclusion in the next school capital programme. However, given the number of schemes competing for a place in the programme and the limited available financial resources I am unable to give any guarantee as to whether Dundonald Primary School will be included in the next capital funding announcement.
Policy on Bullying Behaviour Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education what is the agreed policy within Boards and schools relating to first-time bullying and continual bullying incidents. (AQW 1732/01) Mr M McGuinness: Responsibility for policy to deal with bullying behaviour rests with schools. Every school is required to have a written discipline policy which must promote self-discipline among pupils, good behaviour and respect for others. Bullying behaviour, as unacceptable behaviour, should be addressed by schools at the very least as part of their existing policies. Many schools on a voluntary basis have developed a separate anti-bullying policy. I intend to strengthen this position by taking the next legislative opportunity to make it a mandatory requirement upon every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place and to implement it.
Bullying Incidents Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education how many incidents of bullying have taken place in each Board Area in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 1733/01) Mr M McGuinness: The information is not available. As I indicated in the Written Answers Booklet for Tuesday 6 February 2001 and Friday 6 April 2001, data on incidents of alleged bullying is not collected by my Department, nor by the Education and Library Boards.
Recording Bullying Incidents Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education to outline the system used to record and deal with bullying incidents in schools. (AQW 1734/01) Mr M McGuinness: It is a matter for each school to decide how it will deal with bullying incidents and what system of recording will be used. Advice and guidance for schools on tackling bullying is issued regularly by my Department, the Education and Library Boards and voluntary organisations.
Temporary Classrooms: North Down Mr Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of mobile or temporary classrooms in use in schools in the North Down constituency. (AQW 1748/01) Mr M McGuinness: The most recent figures available are for last September and, at that date, 138 temporary classrooms were in use in schools in the constituency.
Temporary Classrooms Mr Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail the total number of mobile or temporary classrooms in use in schools in each of the last 5 years. (AQW 1749/01) Mr M McGuinness: Last year there were an estimated 3,000 temporary classrooms in use in schools. The numbers for previous years are not available. |
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