§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what analysis he has made of(a) the impact of the earlier age of starting school in Northern Ireland upon attainment levels in Northern Ireland education; and (b) the impact of month of birth in the transfer test. [1793]
§ Mr. Ancram(a) The earlier school starting date came into operation in 1989; the first cohort will not leave school until the summer of 2002. No analysis of the impact of the earlier starting age has been carried out, but there is a substantial body of evidence supporting the view that early years education makes a positive impact on educational attainment in the longer term.
(b) There is a known correlation between age and test performance. To allow for the difference in age between the oldest and youngest children taking the tests, an allowance is made for younger pupils. This is calculated for each child in accordance with the day of his/her birth. The younger the child, the larger the allowance will be. There is a well-established practice in relation to the tests. No analysis of the process as such has been undertaken.