§ 17. Mr. Mossasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what steps he will take to promote parity of esteem among the various types of secondary schools.
§ Sir E. BoyleSecondary schools of all kinds are governed by the same regulations about standards of premises, qualifications of staff and size of classes. But I know very well that many of them, especially many secondary modern schools, have to put up with bad or overcrowded buildings and over-large classes. My noble Friend and I will be very much concerned, working with the local education authorities, to do all we can to improve these conditions.
§ Mr. MossDoes the hon. Member agree that, if selection at the age of eleven is to work properly, it is necessary to have schools which have parity of esteem or equality of status? So far we have signally failed to achieve this.
§ Sir E. BoyleOnce again, I would say that this is a difficult subject for a short answer at Question Time. If the hon. Member will look at my Answer, I think he will realise that my noble Friend and I have the kernel of the problem in mind.