HC Deb 20 June 2000 vol 352 c176W
Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of specialist schools make use of their right to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils by aptitude. [127072]

Ms Estelle Morris

We do not have figures on the percentage of specialist schools which make use of the 10 per cent. aptitude selection arrangement. Information about this is now being collected within the schools' progress reports. From a questionnaire sent to the first 238 specialist schools we know that 7 per cent. of the 142 schools which responded select some of their pupils by aptitude.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many specialist schools have been set up since 1997; how many have opted to select 10 per cent. of their intake by aptitude; and if he will list each of those schools and their local education authority. [126905]

Ms Estelle Morris

In May 1997, there were 181 specialist schools. A further 222 specialist schools have become operational since then. We do not have figures on the percentage of specialist schools which select 10 per cent. of their intake by aptitude. Information about this is now being collected within the schools' progress reports. From a questionnaire sent to the first 238 specialist schools we know that 7 per cent. of the 142 schools which responded select some of their pupils by aptitude.