Written question asked by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Thursday, 6 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 April 2000. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 April 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, what assessment his Department has made of the impact on standards of educational achievement of poor behaviour in schools. - (Holding answer 11 April 2000).

Answer: Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the impact on standards of educational achievement of poor behaviour in schools. [118677] Jacqui Smith: [holding answer 11 April 2000]: My Department has not carried out an assessment of the impact of poor behaviour on achievement. However, data in the Department's Youth Cohort Study show that in 1997 31 per cent. of truanting pupils gained no GCSEs, compared to only 4 per cent. of non-truanting pupils. In addition, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of School's latest annual report, published in February, shows the clear link between standards of behaviour and educational achievement. For example, in the majority of secondary schools pupils have positive attitudes to their lessons and to school; however, in a minority, pupils' attitudes to learning are particularly poor in Year 9 because not enough is done to respond to early indicators of pupil disaffection.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 118677; 348 c184W;348 c183-4W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Discipline Education Qualifications Pupils Standards Schools Truancy
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk