Written question asked by Gordon Marsden (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 July 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 October 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 10 October 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

School Transfers

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of whether there is a link between pupils who move school often and social and economic deprivation.

Answer: The Department commissioned the Pupil Mobility in Schools project to produce a report on the nature and causes of pupil mobility in schools and the implications of high mobility for national strategies to raise achievement. This project identified strong associations between pupil mobility and social deprivation, family break up and moves into and out of temporary accommodation. Mobile pupils are more likely to be eligible for free school meals, have English as an additional language, have a special educational need or have behavioural problems."Dobson/Henthorne/Lynas (2000): Pupil Mobility in Schools—Final report, London: University College London."

Secondary information