HC Deb 19 June 1992 vol 209 cc682-3W
Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made in implementing the parents charter commitments regarding the annual publication of comparative information about school performance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Patten

I am today publishing regulations and a circular that begin to implement our commitment in the parents charter to provide improved information for parents and the wider community about the performance of all local schools. In particular, they set out the arrangements under which I will publish this November comparative tables of public examination results for schools in the area of each local education authority.

As a result, from autumn 1992, parents choosing among local secondary schools will be sent comparative tables showing school by school the latest public examination results and will find in each maintained school's prospectus, and in that of each city technology college, improved information on public examination results and truancy rates.

Secondary schools are also being asked to include in their prospectuses and governors' annual reports details of the routes that their pupils take at ages 16, 17 and 18, showing staying-on rates and the destinations of those who leave school.

Independent secondary schools are being asked to join in these arrangements voluntarily in 1992, and I expect that most will wish to do so.

The new arrangements were the subject of consultation with local authorities and others in January this year. As a result of that consultation, I have decided not to impose the requirement to publish comparative tables on local education authorities this year, but to arrange central publication and distribution through primary schools myself.

From 1993, further regulations to be made under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 will cover the complete parents charter commitments, securing by law the inclusion in comparative tables of all schools, including independent ones, and extending their scope to cover truancy rates, national curriculum assessment results and the routes taken by older pupils.

Parents and the wider community have a right to know what is being achieved by our schools for our children. I hope that schools will make every effort to meet our requirements and requests this year. Informed choice by parents is a valuable force for good in education, and we should make sure that choice is based on the best possible information.

Copies of the regulations and circular will be placed in the Library.