HC Deb 30 October 2003 vol 412 cc425-7
8. Mr. Adrian Bailey (Blaby)

What assessment he has made of the performance of specialist schools in achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE compared with the national average; and if he will make a statement. [135239]

The Minister for School Standards (Mr. David Miliband)

Based on provisional data, in 2003 specialist schools averaged 56.1 per cent. of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C; the figure for non specialist schools was 48.7 per cent. That is one of the reasons why we want every school that is ready to do so to take on the challenge of specialist status.

Mr. Bailey

I thank the Minister for his reply, and the experience that he outlines has certainly been reflected in my constituency. Wood Green high school in Wednesbury has doubled the number of pupils achieving five GCSEs at grade C or above in the past five years. The problem, however, is that I want to see more. In the light of the fact that the raising of sponsorship money can constitute a block on aspiring schools, will the Minister say how many schools have tried to access money from the partnership fund in order to achieve specialist status?

Mr. Miliband

Members on both sides of the House have pointed out over several years that the sponsorship requirement is quite significant, which is why we have introduced the partnership fund. Some £3 million a year is available to schools that have attempted to reach out to local businesses, but which have not reached the £50,000 limit. We will announce the full list of new specialist schools in January, but I can tell my hon. Friend that more than 100 schools have successfully applied for the partnership fund, which is beginning to bridge the gap in communities that struggle to meet the sponsorship requirement.

Mr. George Osborne (Tatton)

Given that the Minister is a very generous man, will he look kindly on Knutsford high school's application for the new humanities specialism, and join me in encouraging the local community and local businesses to contribute to the sponsorship, so that it may not need to ask the Government for money?

Mr. Miliband

If the hon. Gentleman carries on like that, he will end my political career in one fell swoop. As he knows, Knutsford high school's application for specialist status is a matter close to my heart; indeed, he wrote to me last year about its applying for multiple specialisms. I wrote back to explain that that was not possible, but I very much look forward to its application for the humanities specialism.

Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)

How many specialist schools are making use of their ability to select 10 per cent. of pupils on aptitude, and what is the difference between ability and aptitude, in terms of selection?

Mr. Miliband

The figures show that less than 6 per cent. of specialist schools select on the basis of aptitude. They are allowed to do so in subjects such as music and sport, and although practising can help to improve ability, aptitude comes naturally in such subjects. I was pleased to learn that the adjudicator recently said that the tests available for aptitude are appropriate.

Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West)

We Conservatives welcome and endorse the success of specialist schools, but does the Minister accept that one of the most successful specialisms is that of specialising in academic excellence? Figures that he gave me earlier this year show that the chances of schools in selective education authority areas achieving GCSE grades of A* to A are almost double that of those in comprehensive education authority areas. Will he further endorse what the Prime Minister said on 16 July—that theGovernment have never closed grammar schools and that no grammar school will close without the specific approval of parents in a ballot? Will he confirm that that applies to parents and grammar schools in Gloucestershire that currently face the threat of closure? Will no grammar school there close without specific approval in a parental ballot?

Mr. Miliband

There we have it—it is a new day and there is to be a new leader, but it is the same old Tories. Every single question about education that the hon. Gentleman asks comes back to grammar schools. He is obsessed with the interests of the few and happy to condemn two-thirds or three-quarters of young people to second-class education. We are not willing to do that.