To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions his Department has issued (a) directives, (b) requirements and (c) advice to (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in the last 12 months. (138853)

The Department only sends information automatically to schools in England in exceptional cases having stopped regular paper mailings in December 2004.

Discussions with head teachers and detailed research showed that schools wanted to be able to choose the printed publications they needed, when they needed them, and to be able to order multiple copies.

Instead, the Department has successfully introduced an online ordering service where schools are able to either download or order paper based copies of publications including guidance. A regular fortnightly e-mail is sent to schools to inform them of new publications. In addition, Spectrum provides schools, head teachers and chairs of governors with a summary of all the latest resources, publications, guidance and regulations. It is available online and can also be requested in paper copy.