§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of children who passed the 11-plus examination in Northern Ireland between 1970 and 1975.
§ Mr. MoyleFollowing is the information:
Year Percentage Pass Rate 1970 … … … … 22.85 1971 … … … … 23.65 1972 … … … … 24.20 1973 … … … … 24.57 1974 … … … … 25.46 1975 … … … … 25.45
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is now satisfied with the procedure for conducting the Northern Ireland 11-plus examination; and if he will publish the main findings and conclusions of the investigation conducted to examine malpractices in the system.
§ Mr. MoyleMy right hon. Friend is satisfied with the revised procedure for conducting the tests in January and February 1976. The following public statement, which was issued on behalf of the Northern Ireland Department of Education on 12th December 1975, sets out the main findings and conclusions of the investigation:84W
Because of allegations about irregularities in connection with the first verbal Reasoning Test held on 7th November, the Department of Education decided to postpone the second test, due to be held on 5th December, in order that an investigation could be carried out.In its investigation, the Department found no evidence that any irregularity occurred in the carrying out of the arrangements for the test. It ascertained, however, that 12 of the 100 questions set in the test had been reproduced some years ago in a Northern Ireland newspaper and had been used for practice purposes in various schools throughout Northern Ireland. Moreover, the Department has been told that, in one area at least, children had been coached in the complete test paper along with other test papers obtained from sources in Great Britain.Many parents and teachers may therefore take the view that some children have obtained an advantage over others.For a number of years the Department has obtained the tests from one or other of the two educational institutions which specialise in the preparation of tests of this kind. The Department purchased the tests on the clear understanding that they had not previously been supplied for use in Northern Ireland. It has now to be accepted that there are insufficient safeguards in these arrangements.After consultation with the Working Party on Selection Procedure (which includes representatives of teachers and Education and Library Boards), and after consideration of advice from the Primary Teachers' Council, the Department has decided that the test of 7th November must be disregarded, and two new tests, prepared by the Department, be set in the New Year. The first of these will be held on 23rd January and the second on 6th February 1976. It will not be possible to issue a new practice test, but practice verbal reasoning test 2P issued prior to 5th December may be used.The Department very much regrets that this situation has occurred particularly in view of the disturbance that the abandonment of the first test will cause for the children and parents and schools concerned. It feels however that, in the interest of fairness for all, this is the proper step to take.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the same printer was responsible for the production of the Northern Ireland 11-plus examination papers used between 1970 and 1975; and if he will publish the findings of the investigation conducted to establish if there was a link between this company or employees of this company and certain individuals or organisations in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MoyleThe company which printed the selection procedure test papers used on 7th November 1975 also printed papers used for the 1970 tests. 85W The Northern Ireland Department of Education is not aware of any suggestion, nor has it any evidence, of a link between this company or its employees and any individual or organisation in Northern Ireland.