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Vaz, Keith (27)
Answering member
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We look forward to welcoming my hon. Friend to Leicester. As he knows, ““Building Schools for the Future”” has funded the complete modernisation and rebuilding of two schools in my constituency—Judge Meadow school and Soar Valley community college. What assurances can he give me that the other schools in Leicester, East, and in wider Leicester, will get the benefit of this extraordinarily wonderful scheme?
We look forward to welcoming my hon. Friend to Leicester. As he knows, ““Building Schools for the Future”” has funded the complete modernisation and rebuilding of two schools in my constituency—Judge Meadow school and Soar Valley community college. What assurances can he give me that the other schools in Leicester, East, and in wider Leicester, will get the benefit of this extraordinarily wonderful scheme?
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 October 2006
I look forward to visiting one or two of the schools that my right hon. Friend mentioned. Leicester is in the first wave of ““Building Schools for the Future””. There are 16 schools in the project, four of which are in phase 1, so plenty of others beyond the two that he mentioned that can look forward to the substantial investment that we are putting into schools.
Subjects
Construction; Schools; Leicester; Building schools for the future programme
Date
12 October 2006
Reference
450 c438
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
When he next expects to visit Leicester to discuss the ““Building Schools for the Future”” initiative.
When he next expects to visit Leicester to discuss the ““Building Schools for the Future”” initiative.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Knight of Weymouth
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 October 2006
For answer on
12 October 2006
Answered on
12 October 2006
I would be delighted to visit Leicester to discuss ““Building Schools for the Future”” and to enjoy my right hon. Friend’s legendary hospitality. In addition, the Department’s officials and Partnerships for Schools are in regular contact with the authority in working to support the development of the project, which is funded to the tune of £235 million, in Leicester.
Subjects
Construction; Schools; Leicester; Building schools for the future programme
Date
12 October 2006
Reference
92865; 450 c438
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are being taken to ensure that (a) knives and (b) guns are not taken into schools.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are being taken to ensure that (a) knives and (b) guns are not taken into schools.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Tony McNulty
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 June 2006
For answer on
3 July 2006
Answered on
5 July 2006
Measures on ensuring school security are a matter for the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. We work closely with the Department on a range of issues, including current legislative proposals contained in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill on powers for head teachers to search pupils for weapons.
Subjects
Offensive weapons; Schools; Weapons
Date
5 July 2006
Reference
82267; 448 c1095W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps are being taken by his Department to provide security measures to ensure that (a) knives and (b) guns are not taken into schools.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps are being taken by his Department to provide security measures to ensure that (a) knives and (b) guns are not taken into schools.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Knight of Weymouth
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 June 2006
For answer on
3 July 2006
Answered on
4 July 2006
School security is a local matter. Under health and safety law, it is for individual school employers to determine what measures a school should take to keep pupils and staff safe. In the main, schools are very safe places and the majority of pupils have never carried a knife. It is a criminal offence to carry an offensive weapon on school premises. Where schools have suspicions they can call the police, and should do so if they believe pupils or staff are at risk of serious harm. Schools and local police can agree a Safer School Partnership to prevent crime in and around a school. We also propose a power in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to enable schools to search, without consent, pupils they suspect are carrying a knife or other weapon.
Subjects
Offensive weapons; Schools; Weapons
Date
4 July 2006
Reference
82264; 448 c1040W
House
House of Commons
May I welcome what the Minister has said? I hope that, in any citizenship course, there will be reference to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) as being an essential part of British history. Has the Minister seen a leaflet produced by the Children’s Legal Centre that sets out the rights and responsibilities of young people from the age of 13 onwards? In discussing citizenship, is it not important to look also at the rights and responsibilities of young people? Will he ensure that that is included in any discussion of citizenship?
May I welcome what the Minister has said? I hope that, in any citizenship course, there will be reference to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) as being an essential part of British history. Has the Minister seen a leaflet produced by the Children’s Legal Centre that sets out the rights and responsibilities of young people from the age of 13 onwards? In discussing citizenship, is it not important to look also at the rights and responsibilities of young people? Will he ensure that that is included in any discussion of citizenship?
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 June 2006
My hon. Friend makes a good point. The citizenship curriculum covers issues relating to social and moral responsibility, political literacy and community involvement. Within all of that, the rights and responsibilities of every citizen in this country, what they are and how they can be exercised, and how young people have rights and responsibilities and can exercise them, must form a key part of what goes on in the classroom across the whole of school curriculum, as we generate an ethos of understanding and encouraging active citizenship by all our young people.
Subjects
Curriculum; Citizenship; Young people; Education; Schools
Date
29 June 2006
Reference
448 c372
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Leicester Ofsted has inspected in the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Leicester Ofsted has inspected in the last three years.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
14 March 2006
For answer on
16 March 2006
Answered on
28 March 2006
This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.Letter from Maurice J. Smith, dated 17 March 2006:"Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.""You asked how many schools in Leicestershire have been inspected by Ofsted in the last three years.""During the period January 2003 to December 2005, 35 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, seven special schools and one pupil referral unit were inspected in Leicester. School inspections before September 2005 were carried out under Section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996, as amended by the Education Act 2002. School inspections since September 2005 are carried out under Section 5 of the Education Act 2005.""A copy of this reply has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the library of both Houses."
Subjects
Inspections; Schools; Leicester
Date
28 March 2006
Reference
59511; 444 c889W;444 c889W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will visit Leicester to discuss school repairs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will visit Leicester to discuss school repairs.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 March 2006
For answer on
16 March 2006
Answered on
16 March 2006
Leicester City is in Wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future, our strategic programme to transform the secondary-school estate over 15 years. I would be happy to visit Leicester when the first new school is finished. Leicester City and its schools will be allocated over £280 million in this and the next two years to improve and repair their buildings.
Subjects
Schools; Leicester
Date
16 March 2006
Reference
443 c2384W;443 c2384W; 58794
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department allocated for IT equipment in schools in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each year between 1997 and 2005.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department allocated for IT equipment in schools in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each year between 1997 and 2005.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
6 February 2006
For answer on
8 February 2006
Answered on
6 March 2006
The Department does not hold information on funding for ICT at constituency level. However, Leicester East is in Leicester City LA and allocations for this authority, between 1998–2005, are detailed in ‘Funding for ICT in Schools in England' which is available in the House Library. The document also includes total funding allocations for schools in England in each year. The ICT funding allocation for Leicester City LA in 2005–2006 was £2,530,305 and the total allocation for ICT in schools in England was £611 million.
Subjects
Finance; ICT; Equipment; Schools; Leicester
Date
6 March 2006
Reference
50145; 443 c1219-20W;443 c1219-20W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department allocated for school IT systems in each year from 1997 to 2005 in (a) Leicestershire and (b) England.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department allocated for school IT systems in each year from 1997 to 2005 in (a) Leicestershire and (b) England.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Phil Hope
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 February 2006
For answer on
13 February 2006
Answered on
27 February 2006
The Department does not hold information on specific allocation figures for IT systems in schools within Leicestershire local authority (LA) or England. Funding for schools IT systems will be included within the overall ICT allocation figure for the LA.ICT funding allocations for Leicestershire LA since 1998 are detailed in ““Funding for ICT in Schools in England”” which is available in the House Library. The document also includes total funding allocations for schools in England in each year.
Subjects
Finance; ICT; Schools; Leicestershire
Date
27 February 2006
Reference
443 c548W;443 c548W; 51726
House
House of Commons
(2) how many hours of school were missed due to truancy in each academic year between 1997 and 2005 in (a) Leicester and (b) England.
(2) how many hours of school were missed due to truancy in each academic year between 1997 and 2005 in (a) Leicester and (b) England.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 February 2006
For answer on
9 February 2006
Answered on
27 February 2006
The Department does not hold data on the number of hours of school missed due to truancy. In 2005, the proportion of half day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence (of which truancy plays a part) in maintained primary schools in Leicester city was 0.70 per cent. and for maintained secondary schools 2.86 per cent. The comparative figures for England were 0.43 per cent. for primary schools and 1.23 per cent. for secondary schools. In September 2005, the Government announced a drive against pupils with high unauthorised absences in 146 secondary schools which account for one in five of all instances of unauthorised absence across the country. We have now extended this to cover 198 secondary schools and an estimated 13,000 pupils. This drive will provide an intensive package of support and challenge to these pupils and their families.
Subjects
Schools; Truancy; Leicester
Date
27 February 2006
Reference
51005; 443 c603W;443 c603W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will make a statement on truancy levels in schools in (a) Leicester and (b) England;
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will make a statement on truancy levels in schools in (a) Leicester and (b) England;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 February 2006
For answer on
9 February 2006
Answered on
27 February 2006
The Department does not hold data on the number of hours of school missed due to truancy. In 2005, the proportion of half day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence (of which truancy plays a part) in maintained primary schools in Leicester city was 0.70 per cent. and for maintained secondary schools 2.86 per cent. The comparative figures for England were 0.43 per cent. for primary schools and 1.23 per cent. for secondary schools. In September 2005, the Government announced a drive against pupils with high unauthorised absences in 146 secondary schools which account for one in five of all instances of unauthorised absence across the country. We have now extended this to cover 198 secondary schools and an estimated 13,000 pupils. This drive will provide an intensive package of support and challenge to these pupils and their families.
Subjects
Schools; Truancy; Leicester
Date
27 February 2006
Reference
51004; 443 c603W;443 c603W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned in the last three years on bullying in schools.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned in the last three years on bullying in schools.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 February 2006
For answer on
13 February 2006
Answered on
16 February 2006
The Department has not, in the last three years, evaluated any research on bullying in schools.The Department commissioned an external evaluation of our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.
Subjects
Bullying; Pupils; Schools; Research
Date
16 February 2006
Reference
442 c2254W;442 c2254W; 51724
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what steps her Department is taking (a) to prevent (i) bullying and (ii) the causes of bullying and (b) to help those who are victims of bullying;
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what steps her Department is taking (a) to prevent (i) bullying and (ii) the causes of bullying and (b) to help those who are victims of bullying;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullying—for example prejudice—and to helping those who are bullied.Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.We have put more adults than ever in our schools—teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officers—so that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools ““Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence””, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resource—an intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on ““Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04””.Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further £200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.We have provided the ABA, with £600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.The Department has committed £200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing £50,000 of funding for 2005/06.Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.In addition our resources such as the Charter and ““Don't Suffer in Silence”” offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.
| Amount (£) | |
| 2002/03 | 184,000 |
| 2003/04 | 1,054,000 |
| 2004/05 | 1,613,000 |
| 2005/06 | 1,145,000 |
Subjects
Bullying; Charities; Finance; Pupil exclusions; Pupils; Schools; Teachers; Training; Research; Victim support schemes
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49599; 442 c1917-20W;442 c1917-20W
House
House of Commons
(2) how many children have changed schools as a result of being victims of bullying since 1997; and how many children have been (a) suspended and (b) expelled from school for bullying in that period;
(2) how many children have changed schools as a result of being victims of bullying since 1997; and how many children have been (a) suspended and (b) expelled from school for bullying in that period;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullying—for example prejudice—and to helping those who are bullied.Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.We have put more adults than ever in our schools—teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officers—so that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools ““Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence””, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resource—an intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on ““Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04””.Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further £200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.We have provided the ABA, with £600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.The Department has committed £200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing £50,000 of funding for 2005/06.Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.In addition our resources such as the Charter and ““Don't Suffer in Silence”” offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.
| Amount (£) | |
| 2002/03 | 184,000 |
| 2003/04 | 1,054,000 |
| 2004/05 | 1,613,000 |
| 2005/06 | 1,145,000 |
Subjects
Bullying; Charities; Finance; Pupil exclusions; Pupils; Schools; Teachers; Training; Research; Victim support schemes
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49601; 442 c1917-20W;442 c1917-20W
House
House of Commons
(3) how much funding her Department made available for schools to tackle the problem of bullying in each academic year between 1997 and 2005;
(3) how much funding her Department made available for schools to tackle the problem of bullying in each academic year between 1997 and 2005;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullying—for example prejudice—and to helping those who are bullied.Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.We have put more adults than ever in our schools—teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officers—so that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools ““Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence””, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resource—an intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on ““Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04””.Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further £200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.We have provided the ABA, with £600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.The Department has committed £200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing £50,000 of funding for 2005/06.Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.In addition our resources such as the Charter and ““Don't Suffer in Silence”” offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.
| Amount (£) | |
| 2002/03 | 184,000 |
| 2003/04 | 1,054,000 |
| 2004/05 | 1,613,000 |
| 2005/06 | 1,145,000 |
Subjects
Bullying; Charities; Finance; Pupil exclusions; Pupils; Schools; Teachers; Training; Research; Victim support schemes
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49602; 442 c1917-20W;442 c1917-20W
House
House of Commons
(5) what support her Department provides to (a) ChildLine, (b) the NSPCC and (c) other charitable organisations to help them support victims of bullying;
(5) what support her Department provides to (a) ChildLine, (b) the NSPCC and (c) other charitable organisations to help them support victims of bullying;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullying—for example prejudice—and to helping those who are bullied.Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.We have put more adults than ever in our schools—teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officers—so that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools ““Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence””, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resource—an intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on ““Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04””.Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further £200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.We have provided the ABA, with £600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.The Department has committed £200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing £50,000 of funding for 2005/06.Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.In addition our resources such as the Charter and ““Don't Suffer in Silence”” offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.
| Amount (£) | |
| 2002/03 | 184,000 |
| 2003/04 | 1,054,000 |
| 2004/05 | 1,613,000 |
| 2005/06 | 1,145,000 |
Subjects
Bullying; Charities; Finance; Pupil exclusions; Pupils; Schools; Teachers; Training; Research; Victim support schemes
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49639; 442 c1917-20W;442 c1917-20W
House
House of Commons
(6) what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) published on bullying in schools since 1997;
(6) what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) published on bullying in schools since 1997;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullying—for example prejudice—and to helping those who are bullied.Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.We have put more adults than ever in our schools—teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officers—so that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools ““Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence””, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resource—an intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on ““Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04””.Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further £200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.We have provided the ABA, with £600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.The Department has committed £200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing £50,000 of funding for 2005/06.Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.In addition our resources such as the Charter and ““Don't Suffer in Silence”” offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.
| Amount (£) | |
| 2002/03 | 184,000 |
| 2003/04 | 1,054,000 |
| 2004/05 | 1,613,000 |
| 2005/06 | 1,145,000 |
Subjects
Bullying; Charities; Finance; Pupil exclusions; Pupils; Schools; Teachers; Training; Research; Victim support schemes
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49640; 442 c1917-20W;442 c1917-20W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statistics her Department (a) collects and (b) publishes on bullying in schools in England.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statistics her Department (a) collects and (b) publishes on bullying in schools in England.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
The Department does not collect national data on instances of bullying in England and schools. However, there are surveys run by, or supported by, the Department which do give an indication of the extent of bullying in schools in England.The Department contributes funds to the Department for Work and Pensions' ‘Families and Children Study'. This is an annual survey of a representative sample of families with dependent children in Britain. The study includes questions to parents and children on bullying (either in or out of schools). Reports from this study are published by DWP and are available from http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/facs/facs_publication.aspThe Department also runs the Longitudinal Study of Young People in Education (LSYPE) which is following a sample of young people in schools in England from Year 9 onwards. This survey covers pupils in both maintained and independent sectors and includes questions to parents and children on bullying. Although data from the first wave of this study are not yet available there are plans to make the data publicly available from the UK Data Archive.
Subjects
Bullying; Pupils; Statistics; Schools; Surveys
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49638; 442 c1920W;442 c1920W
House
House of Commons
(4) if she will make a statement on Government plans to tackle bullying;
(4) if she will make a statement on Government plans to tackle bullying;
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
This Government have given an unprecedented high profile to preventing bullying and supporting those who have been bullied. Our anti-bullying work, including the anti-bullying Charter for Action, takes an integrated approach to preventing bullying, to addressing causes of bullying—for example prejudice—and to helping those who are bullied.Since 1999 it has been compulsory for every school to have an anti-bullying policy in place which details how the school will tackle bullying.We have secured a very broad consensus, with all the teaching professional associations and the Anti Bullying Alliance signing up to our Anti-Bullying Charter for Action. The Charter is a voluntary commitment to creating a school community where bullying is not tolerated. In line with commitments outlined in the White Paper we re-issued the Charter during Anti-Bullying Week 2005 and therefore expect an increase in the number being returned to us via the ABA over the coming months. In 2006 we plan to share examples of where the Charter has been particularly well implemented with other schools, which can learn from this best practice.Through our work with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), an organisation comprising over 65 leading anti-bullying charities and experts, we provide schools and local authorities with expert help to tackle bullying.We have put more adults than ever in our schools—teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors, Connexions personal advisers, Behaviour and Education Support Teams and police officers—so that a wide range of people are available to help prevent and tackle bullying.Further to the White Paper, in 2006 we shall issue guidance on prejudice driven bullying, including racist and homophobic bullying, providing school staff with valuable support in an area they often find challenging. We plan to launch our advice on countering racist bullying online at the end of February.Anti-bullying week continues to be a successful event with a large number of schools taking part in November 2005's activities through a wide variety of national and local events. There was a considerable amount of positive press coverage and this year over 325,000 wristbands were distributed.Our anti-bullying resource pack for schools ““Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence””, updated in 2000 and September 2002 will be revised and re-issued in 2006 to ensure schools have the most up-to-date information available on tackling bullying.In addition the Department has recently launched the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) curriculum resource—an intervention to develop children's social, emotional and behavioural skills from Foundation Stage to Year 6. It is available to all primary schools and the evidence from the pilot suggests that it helps reduce bullying and promotes positive behaviour generally. It is an important arm of the Department's longer term policy to promote positive behaviour and attendance. The Department is hoping to build on the work carried out in primary schools by providing a similar whole school curriculum based resource for secondary schools (SEBS). At present the programme is in a very early pilot stage.Data on bullying is not collected centrally and thus there is no reliable basis for an estimate of how many children have changed schools as a result of being bullied.The first time the reason for exclusion was collected was in the academic year 2003/04. In that year 150 pupils were permanently excluded and 6,750 were given fixed period exclusions for bullying. This information comes from the Statistical First Release on ““Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusion from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England, 2003/04””.Funds for schools to devote to anti-bullying work form part of their overall budgets; they are not ring fenced so we have no information on how much they have devoted to this.The figures for the anti-bullying strand of the Improving Behaviour and Attendance strategy, which is used centrally to support schools and local authorities in their anti bullying work, are given as follows:
Figures for earlier years are not available because the anti-bullying strand of behaviour work was not disaggregated.In 2005/06 the Department has contributed a further £200,000 of funding to CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools). The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.We note that ChildLine and the NSPCC have recently joined forces and we hope to continue working with both in their joint efforts to protect and support those who have been bullied.We have provided the ABA, with £600,000 of funding for the 2005/06 period.The Department has committed £200,000 for 2005/06 to Parent Line Plus, a telephone advice line for parents offering guidance on a range of subjects. Between April 2003 and March 2004 21 per cent. of all calls received related to bullying. In conjunction with the DFES and the ABA, the line can also refer parents who have not received satisfactory help at a local level to a one to one advice line.The Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying was launched in 2004 and highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community. The Department has shown its continuing support for this initiative by contributing £50,000 of funding for 2005/06.Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying, ““Don't Suffer in Silence””, has been externally evaluated by researchers at Goldsmith's College, University of London. The results, though based on a fairly low response rate from schools, show that the schools found that the pack met their expectations and helped in drawing up their anti-bullying policies.This evaluation included research into the perceived success of the anti bullying strategies and interventions recommended in the guidance. Schools generally reported a high level of satisfaction with the interventions they had used.The Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, to review the research evidence relating to homophobia in schools and to talk to groups with an interest in this area. The Department published their work in its Research Report series in late 2004, number 594, entitled ““Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: A Review and Implications for Action””.Training has been provided in each Government Office region through the Make The Difference conferences and through ABA training events and direct ABA work with individual schools. Training is also being provided through dissemination events linked to forthcoming advice on countering prejudice driven bullying.Through the National Strategies the Department makes high-quality staff training materials on managing behaviour, including bullying, available to all schools. In addition each local authority is also supported by at least one expert Behaviour and Attendance consultant in each local authority.Through the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA), the Department has developed a programme for training specialist staff who have leadership roles in relation to behaviour and attendance, including anti-bullying.In addition our resources such as the Charter and ““Don't Suffer in Silence”” offer further support and advice to teachers in this area.As anti-bullying training funding is not disaggregated or devolved directly, it is not possible to identify national funds or funds for Leicester.
| Amount (£) | |
| 2002/03 | 184,000 |
| 2003/04 | 1,054,000 |
| 2004/05 | 1,613,000 |
| 2005/06 | 1,145,000 |
Subjects
Bullying; Charities; Finance; Pupil exclusions; Pupils; Schools; Teachers; Training; Research; Victim support schemes
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49637; 442 c1917-20W;442 c1917-20W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has made available for improvements to school sports facilities in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each year between 1997 and 2005.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding her Department has made available for improvements to school sports facilities in (a) Leicester and (b) England in each year between 1997 and 2005.
Asked by
Keith Vaz
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education and Skills
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 February 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
14 February 2006
Significant funding is being provided specifically to enhance PE and school sport facilities between 2001 and 2009. In total, £686 million of lottery funding is providing a step change in school sport facilities through the Space for Sport and Arts and Big Lottery's New Opportunities for PE and Sport programmes.Local authorities and schools may supplement this with the formula capital funding that we provide to them. However, it is the responsibility of the schools and local authorities to determine how they allocate these funds to different projects, including enhancing school sports facilities, taking account of local needs and priorities.Records are not held centrally that show how much of this funding is spent on school sports facilities, neither am I able to provide a breakdown for Leicester.
Subjects
Finance; Facilities; Schools; Sports; Leicester
Date
14 February 2006
Reference
49600; 442 c1935-6W;442 c1935-6W
House
House of Commons