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Lord Moonie
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Moonie, Lord (4)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the launching of the Skill Force in Oldham.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the launching of the Skill Force in Oldham.
Asked by
Patrick Mercer
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Moonie
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
30 January 2003
For answer on
6 February 2003
Answered on
6 February 2003
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the launching of the Skill Force in Oldham.
[95413]
Dr. Moonie: The Skill Force initiative is part of Ministry of Defence's work in the wider community as a force for good. The
objective is to reduce the number of pupils not in employment, education or training on completion of mandatory education at 16.
More immediately, the aim is to reduce truancy, school exclusion and juvenile crime. This is done by using the skills and experience
of ex-Service instructors to deliver a vocational alternative for one day a week in school time. The course develops Wider and Key
skills through a range of awards and qualifications ranging from St. John's Ambulance young lifesaver to Duke of Edinburgh and Key
Skills qualifications. The course is structured around the ASDAN modular vocational award studied at Bronze/Silver level. Pupils
gain self- confidence and team skills while working with strong positive role models from the armed forces.
As a result of an independent evaluation of two of the more mature schemes carried out last year, it was agreed that DfES would fund
a further 12 schemes as part of its Behaviour Improvement Programme. 13 local education authorities were invited to include Skill
Force in their range of behaviour improvement measures. I am pleased to say that Oldham was one of the authorities chosen and that
the scheme there was formally opened on 9 January 2003. A total of some 54 young people are involved in Skill Force Oldham, the
participating schools are, Breeze Hill School, Radclyffe School and South Chadderton School.
Subjects
Children; Disadvantaged; Anti-social behaviour; Cadets; Pilot schemes; Pupil exclusions; Ministry of Defence; Truancy; Oldham; SkillForce
Date
6 February 2003
Reference
399 c405-6W;399 c403W; 95413
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, What assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme; and if he will make a statement. (Failed OPQ). - Includes figures and refers to British Market Research Bureau research has already been placed in the Library.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, What assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme; and if he will make a statement. (Failed OPQ). - Includes figures and refers to British Market Research Bureau research has already been placed in the Library.
Asked by
Helen Jones
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Moonie
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 November 2002
For answer on
9 December 2002
Answered on
9 December 2002
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme; and if he will
make a statement. [83989]
Dr. Moonie: The Skill Force scheme is now in its third year in secondary schools at its two original locations. A further nine
locations are in their second year of piloting and this autumn we are putting Skill Force teams into a further 13 locations. This
latest expansion is being taken forward jointly between the Ministry of Defence and Department of Education and Skills (DfES) as
part of DfES's Behaviour Improvement Programme which, in turn, is part of the Government's Street Crime Initiative.
Independent evaluation of the impact of this exciting scheme is an integral part of the approach we have taken to the piloting of
Skill Force. This focuses on testing the scheme's achievement against the key objectives: reducing truancy; reducing exclusions;
improving educational and vocational attainment; improving behaviour; and reducing the number of young people who are not in
employment, education or training on completion of their mandatory schooling.
The latest evaluation by the British Market Research Bureau reviews the original schemes in Newcastle Upon Tyne and West Norfolk and
shows positive results. Attendance rates exceeded 90 per cent. among children who were otherwise expected to display sharply
declining attendance through years 10 and 11; for many it would have been expected that declining attendance would have led
eventually to exclusion. Exclusion levels have also reduced dramatically; only 13 participants were excluded, compared to 46 who
were identified at being at risk of permanent exclusion. One Norfolk Head Teacher said:
"There are youngsters that would have been excluded by now from school if it hadn't been for Skill Force. Some of them have got very
challenging behaviours but there has been a noticeable improvement, there's also been a noticeable improvement in their attendance
as well".
Skill Force has been credited as the major factor in raising GCSE A*-C grades from 26 per cent. to 36 per cent. in one of the
Newcastle Upon Tyne schools.
In addition, over half of the parents interviewed have reported more positive behaviour and attitudes which they attribute directly
to Skill Force.
The report also indicated areas where further development of the Schemes could be undertaken and would be beneficial.
A full copy of the British Market Research Bureau research has already been placed in the Library of the House.
Subjects
Disadvantaged; Cadets; Pilot schemes; Pupil exclusions; Ministry of Defence; Truancy; SkillForce
Date
9 December 2002
Reference
396 c18-9W; 83989
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the expansion of his Department's sponsored Skill Force initiative to assist under-achieving youngsters in schools. - Includes ref to full report in Library.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the expansion of his Department's sponsored Skill Force initiative to assist under-achieving youngsters in schools. - Includes ref to full report in Library.
Asked by
Patrick Mercer
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Moonie
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 July 2002
For answer on
16 July 2002
Answered on
16 July 2002
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the expansion of his Department's sponsored
Skill Force initiative to assist under-achieving youngsters in schools. [67705]
Dr. Moonie: The Skill Force scheme forms part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to wider Government social exclusion
policies. The initiative aims to prevent young people from feeling long-term disaffection with school and society. It is currently
being piloted in 11 areas and in 47 schools in England and Scotland.
An integral part of the Skill Force pilot scheme has been rigorous and independent evaluation by the British Market Research Bureau.
The most recent evaluation report, based on the two original schemes that started in September 2000 in Newcastle and Norfolk, has
been completed. The report has shown that Skill Force has helped to maintain attendance rates of over 90 per cent. among children
who would otherwise have been expected to display sharply declining attendance, sometimes leading to exclusion through years 10 and
11. Exclusions among participating children in these schools have been reduced by 72 per cent. compared with those predicted by the
head teachers at the start of the scheme. A copy of the full report will be placed in the Library of the House.
The positive results from the independent evaluation have encouraged DfES to work with the MOD in offering Skill Force more widely.
In response to the Government's Street Crime Initiative, Skill Force is one of the schemes 11 local education authorities have been
invited to consider to help them to deliver part of DfES's Behaviour Improvement Programme. The LEAs concerned have all been in
discussions with the MOD and a final decision on locations and schools is expected to be made in the next month. In addition,
discussions are currently being held with a view to extending the pilot scheme to Wales. A decision is expected shortly.
Subjects
Children; Discipline; Disadvantaged; Armed forces; Pilot schemes; Pupil exclusions; Ministry of Defence; Training; Truancy; Departmental coordination; SkillForce
Date
16 July 2002
Reference
67705; 389 c156W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the pilot Skillforce scheme.
Asked by
Hywel Francis
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Moonie
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 May 2002
For answer on
10 June 2002
Answered on
10 June 2002
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the pilot Skill Force scheme. [59196]
Dr. Moonie: The Skill Force scheme forms part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to our wider Government social exclusion
policies. The initiative aims to prevent young people from feeling long-term disaffection with school and society. It is currently
being piloted in 11 ares and in 47 schools in England and Scotland. Discussions are currently being held with a view to extending
the pilot to Wales.
A feature of the scheme is the use of recently retired service personnel as instructors for selected children in years 10 and 11 in
a number of state secondary schools; and this has proved very effective. Skill Force emphasises instruction in vocational subjects
with the aim of acquiring the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network modular vocational award at bronze/silver level.
Participants also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; St. John's Ambulance Young Life Saver's award and the OCR First
Certificate in Preparation for Employment. The Skill Force scheme is funded by MOD, Department for Education and Skills (DfES), HM
Treasury's Invest to Save Budget and local partners.
An integral part of the Skill Force pilot scheme has been rigorous and independent evaluation by the British Market Research Bureau.
The most recent evaluation report, based on the two original schemes that started in September 2000 in Newcastle and Norfolk, has
been completed. The report has shown that Skill Force has helped to maintain attendance rates of over 90 per cent. among children
who would otherwise have been expected to display sharply declining attendance, sometimes leading to exclusion, through years 10 and
11. Exclusions from these schools have been reduced by 72 per cent. compared with those predicted by the head teachers at the start
of the scheme.
The Skill Force initiative has been supported by DfES from the outset, with the Invest to Save Budget bid being made jointly by the
MOD, Home Office and DfES. In response to the Government's Street Crime Initiative, Skill Force is one of the schemes 11 local
education authorities have been invited to consider to help them to deliver part of DfES's Behaviour Improvement Programme. A
decision from the London education authorities on whether they wish to use Skill Force is expected shortly.
Subjects
Disadvantaged; Armed forces; Schools; Training; SkillForce
Date
10 June 2002
Reference
59196; 386 c740-1W
House
House of Commons