§ 15. Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the performance of secondary school children in Northern Ireland in the A-level examinations. [26389]
§ Mr. AncramNorthern Ireland pupils continue to maintain a high level of performance in A-level examinations, and I offer my congratulations to both pupils and teachers.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorDoes the Minister consider that the superb success of Northern Ireland children in GCSEs and A-levels may have been achieved for the same reason as the success in Southend-on-Sea? More than 24 per cent. 1293 of all those children, irrespective of religion, go to grammar schools. Will the Minister bear it in mind that grammar schools give working-class children an opportunity to break through educationally, and will he tell his colleagues and the Labour party that grammar schools achieve a great deal of sound success? We should be proud of what Northern Ireland has achieved.
§ Mr. AncramAs the Education Minister for Northern Ireland, I am more than happy to pay tribute to the quality of education produced by grammar schools, which contribute to the high quality of education provided there, but we must recognise that there are other reasons for that. There is a traditionally high regard for academic qualifications—particularly in higher education—in the Province, and I have found that parents place a high value on education. Parental support also plays a great part in producing the results that we are seeing.