Written question asked by Nadine Dorries (Conservative) on Friday, 7 October 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 Wednesday, 12 October 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Education (Bedfordshire)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have left school at 16 years of age in (a) the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire and (b) Bedfordshire local education authority with less than the equivalent of five GCSEs A-C grade, in each year since 1997.

Answer

The information requested can be found in the following table.

	Number of15 year old pupils	Number of15 year old pupils achieving lessthan 5 A*-C GCSEor equivalent	Percentage achieving less than 5 A*-C GCSEor equivalent
Mid-Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency
2003/04	1,295	532	41
2002/03	1,257	496	39
2001/02	1,243	512	41
2000/01	1,233	499	40
1999/2000		1,114	452	41
1998/99	1,103	464	42
1997/98	1,120	496	44
1996/97	1,036	502	48

Bedfordshire local education authority
2003/04	4,819	2,352	49
2002/03	4,582	2,256	49
2001/02	4,581	2,236	49
2000/01	4,583	2,328	51
1999/2000		4,187	2,118	51
1998/99	4,287	2,263	53
1997/98	4,331	2,313	53
1996/97	4,387	2,442	56
Notes: 1. The information for this answer is derived from data collected for the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables) that are published annually. 2. As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August. 3. For 2003/04 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. For 1996/97 to 2002/03 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.

Secondary information