HC Deb 11 July 1963 vol 680 cc1400-1
22. Sir K. Thompson

asked the Minister of Education what advice he gives to local education authorities regarding the maintenance of standards in grammar schools when they are contemplating changes in their selection procedure.

Sir E. Boyle

Authorities' selection methods do not require my approval, but the advice of Her Majesty's inspectors is always available to them on this topic. Recent changes in the direction of less formal methods of selection have been found beneficial to the primary schools, and I have no reason to suppose that they have in any way affected grammar school standards.

Sir K. Thompson

I accept entirely what my right hon. Friend says, but will he make sure that education authorities are aware of the importance we attach to grammar schools and to the selection of children appropriate for what they have to offer?

Sir E. Boyle

Yes, but with respect to my hon. Friend, when he talks about"children appropriate for grammar schools" I am sure that he does not mean only what might be called the"high flyers". The responsibility of the grammar schools is as great to those children with not quite such a high level of attainment, who none the less can gain very much from working in a grammar school atmosphere.