EDUCATION chiefs in Bolton are confident for the future following publication of the latest education Performance Indicators covering 1997/98.

Exam results are improving, Bolton has more children under five in school and adults are going back to school to improve their education and job prospects. The underlying trend is one of steady progress said Education and Arts Committee Chairman Cllr Don Eastwood.

The Audit Commission tables reveal that the percentage of children in Bolton schools gaining five or more GCSEs at A-C grades has risen slightly to 39pc, compared with 38pc the previous year, and that compared with other metropolitan areas Bolton children are 3pc ahead in their passes.

And when it comes to early starters and getting children into the education system Bolton is among the leaders in Greater Manchester.

In 1994/95, which has been set by the Audit Commission as the baseline, the percentage of children under five in local authority schools (as a percentage of all three and four year olds) was 73pc. This has increased to 77pc compared with a Greater Manchester average of 74pc, and a 61pc all England average.

Booming

Adult education is booming in Bolton with 63 people per 1,000 enrolled on adult education courses compared with 49 nationally and 30 throughout the metropolitan counties nationwide.

And more and more children are sitting down to a school dinner with more than half (51.6pc) of primary pupils buying a school lunch last year, compared with 47pc the previous year. Nationally the figure is only 35pc with 32pc in Greater Manchester.

However, the percentage of Bolton primary schools classes with more than 30 children has increased from 31pc to 36pc. The figure is on a par with other councils in Greater Manchester but 10pc up compared with the national average. Bolton has been given extra money under a special Government programme to recruit more teachers and cut class sizes.

The Audit Commission looked at nine major areas ranging from class sizes and GCSE passes to education spending levels.

Spending per pupil in both primary and secondary schools has increased. In 1994/95. Bolton spent £1,579 per primary pupil and this has risen to £1.717. Figures for secondary schools are £2,178 to £2,267. Bolton spends £15.54 gross per head on adult education, compared with £14.94 in 1996/97. This represents a net spending of £8.81p per head when taking into account funding from external organisations.

Councillor Eastwood said that though Bolton was not too far off target in any of the categories the authority was not complacent and was working at improving certain areas.

"Like other authorities we are better at some things than others. We are building on the strengths and taking action in areas where we are below average performance. It's a story in most areas of good, steady progress in Bolton and I'm particularly pleased that we have maintained and developed a high level of adult participation in lifelong learning.

"We are increasing investment in our schools and pupils and hopefully this extra money will bear fruit in the not too distant future. The Government help in getting extra primary teachers into schools will cut class sizes and we will be meeting the 30-pupil target by the year 2002," he added.

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