§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make available in the library a copy of the report commissioned by his Department from the Policy Studies Institute entitled, "The School Difference"; and if he will make a statement on its findings.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Policy Studies Institute is expected to publish its report on multi-racial secondary schools, entitled "The School Effect", in July. I shall then place a copy in the library.
The major findings of this report are that there were striking differences between the schools surveyed in what they did and how they did it; and that the level of achievement of pupils of similar abilities, regardless of their ethnic or social background, varied markedly according to the school they attended.
The findings will be of interest to all who share the Government's concern to improve standards and ensure that pupils of all ethnic groups have equal opportunity to benefit from what schools can offer.