§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given any guidance to education authorities about the inclusion or exclusion of grammar schools from secondary reorganisation proposals; what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on grammar schools; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnGuidance to local education authorities on secondary reorganisation proposals designed to meet falling rolls was issued in DES circular 4/82. It is for local education authorities to take a view on the form and pattern of secondary education best suited to local circumstances and the preferences of parents.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given any advice to education authorities on the significance which they should give to the views of local industry and commerce when promoting any schemes for secondary reorganisation.
§ Mr. DunnNo specific advice has been issued on this matter, but local education authorities are encouraged to consult widely before making statutory proposals for secondary reorganisation. It is open to local employers to make their views known either at the consultation stage or subsequently, as Government electors, when statutory are published under the provisions of sections 12 to 16 of the Education Act 1980.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has collected statistics on the relative success of pupils in secondary schools in different areas of the country in obtaining O and A-level examination passes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenStatistics of the examination achievements of school leavers are collected annually. Results for 1983–84 have been published in statistical bulletin 4/86.
A study comparing examination achievements in different local education authorities was published in statistical bulletin 13/84, which considered examination achievements in the context of measures of social background and of schooling.