Written question asked by Nadine Dorries (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 July 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 July 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 July 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Secondary Education

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for improvements to secondary education in Mid Bedfordshire.

Answer: The Department's Strategy for Children and Learners sets out the range of departmental policies and initiatives which will raise the quality of education, teaching and learning in Bedfordshire and across the country over the next five years.In Bedfordshire, as a whole, we have increased funding per pupil by £1,040 since 1997–98 and announced last November nearly £54 million of capital support for Bedfordshire and its schools over the next three years. We are supporting the Bedford Excellence Cluster of 20 schools, a 14–19 Pathfinder in South West Bedfordshire and the development of extended schools. We are also providing Leadership Incentive Grant funding to three schools and, through the Department's Innovations Unit, are working with a number of schools in Bedfordshire on furthering collaboration, in order to raise standards.In the Mid Bedfordshire constituency specifically, we have supported the PFI funded expansion and redevelopment of Samuel Whitbread and Harlington Schools and have also approved specialist status for three of its four upper schools which receive extra funding to develop curriculum specialisms.

Secondary information