To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by schools on (a) GCSE, (b) AS and (c) A-level examination entries in each year since 1997. (81999)

It was only in 2002-03 that the Department began collecting information in sufficient detail to answer this question. Therefore no comparable data are available for previous years. The information in the following table covers the cost of test and examination entry fees and any accreditation costs related to pupils, and includes GCSEs, A/AS levels and GNVQs.

We announced in the FE White Paper “Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances” (paragraph 7.16) that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will lead a review of examination fees. The review will consider both the level of fees, and how a common format might be created for implementation by the start of the 2007/08 academic year.