HC Deb 16 February 1982 vol 18 cc139-40
22. Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to ensure that the procedure for the publication of examination results by the independent sector in education is brought into line with that which exists in the State education sector.

Dr. Boyson

Schools participating in the assisted places scheme are already required to publish the same information on examination results as maintained schools. My right hon. Friend has no powers to extend this requirement to schools in the independent sector.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Why are many schools failing to publish those examination results? The results are not being made available to the public in the way intended by the law. Could it be that examination standards in the public schools are not as high as in State schools?

Dr. Boyson

The hon. Gentleman had better ask individual public schools. The maintained schools would not have told us their results if we had not passed the Act last year. Parents can check the examination results of public schools before they pay the fees for their children to go there. As people with children in the maintained schools sector pay rates and taxes, they, too, have the right to know those results.