§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools applied for the right to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils following the guidelines in her Department's circular 6/93; and what are the criteria under which the right to select was sought. [8969]
§ Mrs. GillanLocal education authority-maintained schools do not have to seek the Secretary of State's approval to introduce such arrangements.
Some 43 grant-maintained schools have secured the Secretary of State's agreement to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils on the basis of aptitude or ability in a particular subject or combination of subjects. Of these, 23 wished to select by reference to aptitude or ability in music alone, 17 by music and one or more other subjects, and three by technology.