§ 13. Dr. Twinnasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has given to local education authorities over the relative merits of school sixth forms as opposed to other forms of post-16 provision.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Bob Dunn)My right hon. Friend's advice is set out in circular 4/82. That circular made clear his belief that no single pattern of secondary organisation has overriding advantages of principle; it went on to urge local education authorities to choose the system most suited to local circumstances and preferences.
§ Dr. TwinnI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. If, as he says, there is no single pattern of secondary 145 organisation with an overriding advantage, does he agree that sixth forms of proven quality should be kept and that within any local authority area there should be a choice between staying on at school post-16 and going on to college?
§ Mr. DunnWe are committed to retaining good sixth forms in schools of proven worth. The answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is yes.