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Written Answers to Questions (Continued) Edexcel GCSE Examinations Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to outline (a) the names of schools affected by the exclusion of the examination body EDEXCEL from providing GCSE exams in Northern Ireland; (b) the number of pupils affected; and (c) the nature and amount of compensation offered to schools affected. (AQW 3953/01) Mr M McGuinness: In the 2000/2001 school year, a total of 152 schools entered approximately 12,335 pupils for Edexcel GCSE winter and summer examinations. A list of schools is attached at Appendix A. No compensation has been offered to schools as no contract has been broken by Edexcel’s decision not to offer their GCSE provision here.
Edexcel GCSE Examinations Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to outline (a) if negotiations between his department and EDEXCEL, leading to their exclusion from providing GCSE exams in Northern Ireland, involved the payment of money to EDEXCEL; and (b) if EDEXCEL has received any money from the Department of Education since the completion of negotiations. (AQW 3955/01) Mr M McGuinness: The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and not my Department, took part in negotiations with Edexcel. I understand that CCEA did not make any payment of money to Edexcel following their decision not to offer GCSEs in Northern Ireland, and neither has Edexcel received any money from my Department since the completion of negotiations. Educational Psychologists Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education what reports have been issued by educational psychologists over the last 5 years. (AQW 3962/01) Mr M McGuinness: The majority of reports issued by Educational Psychologists relate to the assessment of individual children with special educational needs, (SEN) and these are confidential. The Educational Psychology Service has also issued awareness raising and good practice guidance on aspects of SEN, such as Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism. Pupils Suspended/Expelled Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail, since 2000, the number of school-age children (a) suspended; and (b) excluded, by (i) year; and (ii) Board area. (AQW 3963/01) Mr M McGuinness: My Department collects the information sought on a school year basis and for 2000-01 is:
Edexcel Examinations Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to outline (a) the number of examinations organised under EDEXCEL for each of the last 5 years; and (b) if any problems were encountered during this period. (AQW 3964/01) Mr M McGuinness: The number of examinations organised under Edexcel for the past 5 years is as follows :
Over recent years, there have been a number of well-documented instances in which pupils here have been affected by the administration of examinations by Edexcel. My Department has registered its concerns with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority which regulates Edexcel, and continues to monitor the situation closely in conjunction with QCA and CCEA. Classroom Assistants Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education what assessment he has made regarding classroom assistants and if their introduction has led to an identifiable improvement in the quality of children’s education. (AQW 3965/01) Mr M McGuinness: Classroom assistants have played an important role in the school system for some time and evidence gathered through school inspections by the Education and Training Inspectorate indicates that benefits do arise from the provision and effective deployment of skilled classroom assistants. Saintfield High School Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils from each local primary school that have been granted a place in Year 1 at Saintfield High School for the year 2002-03. (AQW 3966/01) Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils from each local primary school that have been granted a place in Year 8 (Form 1) at Saintfield High School for the year 2002/03 is set out below:
Ministerial Transport Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 3660/01, to outline (a) the exact nature of the GPA criteria ‘suitability of security measures’ applied in the selection of the Ministerial car; (b) the firm that supplied the Ministerial car; (c) the reason why he chose to select the Ministerial car outside of the practice of other Executive Ministers; and (d) the reason why he chose to supply his own driver which is outside of the practice of other Executive Ministers. (AQW 3973/01) Mr M McGuinness: (a) The ‘suitability of security measures’ related to the ability of potential suppliers to meet the security measures specified in my requests. (b) I am not prepared to disclose the name of the supplier. (c) & (d) The arrangements were determined by my business and security requirements. Holy Cross Primary School Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the number of new enrolments in each of the past 5 years at Holy Cross Primary School, Ardoyne, Belfast; and (b) the number of new pupils accepted for the academic year beginning in September 2002. (AQW 3975/01) Mr M McGuinness: The actual admissions to Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School over the past 5 years were as follows:
The school has received 20 applications for admission in the 2002/03 school year. Burns Report Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Education to outline (a) the current position regarding delivery of the ‘Burns Household Response Form for 11+ Burns Report and Post-Education’ to the residents of BT34 post code area; and (b) if the closure date 28 June 2002 for responses will be extended to accommodate those not yet in receipt of the forms. (AQW 4036/01) Mr M McGuinness: This is the largest consultation ever undertaken on an education issue and the household response form has been distributed to over 670,000 households. Distribution has taken longer than was originally anticipated due to the massive scale of this exercise. All residents in the BT34 area should have received their form by the end of week commencing 3rd June. The deadline for comments is 28 June 2002 and I believe this still allows sufficient time for everyone to respond. Equality Impact Assessment Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Education if he has carried out an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) on the provision of pre-school nursery and childcare places in the (i) controlled; (ii) maintained; (iii) integrated; and (iv) Irish language sectors. (AQW 4059/01) Mr M McGuinness: My Department has, in conjunction with education and library boards and CCMS, commenced an equality impact assessment on the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme which will take account of inter-sectoral provision. Pre-School Education Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Education to outline the methodology for providing state funding to (i) controlled; (ii) maintained; (iii) integrated; and (iv) Irish language schools, in relation to pre-school places; and to make a statement. (AQW 4060/01) Mr M McGuinness: I would refer the Member to the reply I gave to AQO 1599/01 in so far as it refers to the planning and implementation of the Pre-school Education Expansion Programme by the Pre-school Education Advisory Groups. Pre-School Education Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education to list the number of children, by Board area, in funded part-time and full-time pre-school education in (a) nursery schools; and (b) nursery classes. (AQW 4061/01) Mr M McGuinness: I refer the member to the answer given in AQW 3887/01. Pre-School Education Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education to list the number of pre-school children in funded full time and part- time education places in (a) playgroups; (b) day nurseries; and (c) other places. (AQW 4062/01) Mr M McGuinness: The information requested for 2001 is as follows:
Pre-School Education Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education to make a statement on the future of community-based playgroups, in the context of his Department’s decision to expand pre-school education, and his plans to ensure community based playgroups are not disadvantaged. (AQW 4063/01) Mr M McGuinness: Under my Department’s Pre-School Education Expansion Programme, the voluntary and private playgroup sector has become a valued partner of the statutory sector in providing pre-school education and is, for the first time, able to access government funding. In planning and implementing the Expansion Programme the Pre-School Education Advisory Groups (PEAGs) have adhered to a set of jointly agreed and adopted principles on "displacement" and PEAGs have actively sought to avoid displacing good quality pre-school provision in the voluntary and private playgroup sector. The existence of funded provision in existing voluntary and private settings has therefore been taken into account when the locations of new statutory settings are being determined. Pre-School Education Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education when he last visited community-based playgroups in the Western Board area; and to make a statement on their future. (AQW 4064/01) Mr M McGuinness: I would refer the Member to my answer to AQW No 3889/01. Pre-School Education Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Education what assessment he can make of the equality impact to community-based playgroups in light of the state funding proposals for pre-school provision. (AQW 4067/01) Mr M McGuinness: My Department has, in conjunction with education and library boards and CCMS, commenced an equality impact assessment on the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme which will take account of the equality impact on community-based playgroups. Pre-School Education Mr Ford asked the Minister of Education what funding and support is in place for community-based playgroups that have developed independent provision in their local communities and may now be subject to displacement by other state funding. (AQW 4070/01) Mr M McGuinness: Under my Department’s Pre-School Education Expansion Programme, the voluntary and private playgroup sector is, for the first time, able to access government funding. The current rate of funding for centres is £1,190 per place, increasing to £1,230 per place for the 2002/03 academic year. In planning and implementing the Expansion Programme the Pre-School Education Advisory Groups (PEAGs) have adhered to a set of jointly agreed and adopted principles on "displacement" and PEAGs have actively sought to avoid displacing good quality pre-school provision. The existence of funded provision in existing voluntary and private settings has therefore been taken into account when the locations of new statutory settings are being determined. Counselling/Counsellors Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education, following the publication of the Counselling in Northern Ireland report, to outline (a) the number of people currently providing counselling to school children, (b) the number who are accredited or working towards accreditation and (c) the number who are supervised; and to make a statement. (AQO 1598/01) Mr M McGuinness: My Department does not have the information sought. School children can access counselling support through their school, education and library board, health and social services and from a range of private and voluntary organisations. As the recently published DHSS&PS report ‘Counselling in Northern Ireland’ has highlighted it is difficult to establish the number of persons who are counsellors, the number who have appropriate qualifications and are adequately supervised without a statutory system of registration. |