Written question asked by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Thursday, 2 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 November 2000. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Thursday, 9 November 2000 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many young people (a) are receiving and (b) have received an education in a pupil referral unit in each of the last three years; how many pupil referral units there are in (a) England, (b) Nottingham and (c) Nottinghamshire. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many young people (a) are receiving and (b) have received an education in a pupil referral unit in each of the last three years; [137081] (2) how many pupil referral units there are in (a) England, (b) Nottingham and (c) Nottinghamshire. [137082] Jacqui Smith: Provisional figures for 2000 show that there were 8,479 pupils registered at pupil referral units (PRUs). This compares to 7,530 in 1997, 7,740 in 1998 and 8,263 in 1999. This means an increase of nearly 1,000 places since 1997. In addition, the number of pupils dually registered at both school and PRU increased from 4,166 in 1998 to 4,586 in 2000. Latest figures show that there are nearly 300 PRUs in England. Nottingham City LEA has two PRUs. Nottinghamshire LEA has four PRUs. A number of LEAs are amalgamating pupil referral units to bring them under one management structure in order to rationalise and improve provision. As indicated above, there has been an increase in the scale of provision for pupils at PRUs.

Secondary information