Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils were in the fifth-year stage of the five selective schools affected by his recent decision in the summer of 1972; what was the average number of higher leaving certificate passes obtained by such pupils; and what was the average number of higher leaving certificate passes obtained by fifth-year pupils in the comprehensive secondary schools in Glasgow at the same time.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThere were 649 pupils in the fifth-year of the five selective secondary schools in Glasgow affected by my recent decision in January 1972. Information about the number of higher grade passes gained by individual pupils or by individual schools or groups of schools is provided by the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board to the appropriate education authority and has always been regarded as confidential to the authority concerned.
Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of examinations and other tests designed to assess the ability of pupils entering the first year of secondary schools.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellIn general there are now no examinations for the purposes of transfer from primary to secondary schools. Primary schools are usually required to provide teachers' assessments of each pupil's progress in English and mathematics, plus in some cases assessments related to other subjects, aptitudes and interests, and a verbal reasoning quotient. In the exceptional cases where an education authority's arrangements are such that selection between courses or schools is necessary at the point of entry this is usually based on the same information, although I understand that in a few cases the results of entrance examinations may be used. I have no information on the effectiveness of these examinations.