§ Mrs. GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's assessment of the advantages of(a) including the number of pupils on the roll in September of year 11 in the performance tables for GCSE results and (b) including only those pupils who take GCSE exams. [9011]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe 1997 secondary school performance tables will be based on the achievements of all pupils of the relevant age on roll at the time of the schools census in January. The tables will not therefore be influenced by different school policies on the entry of pupils for GCSE examinations, but will allow comparisons to be made on the basis of the achievements of all pupils by the end of compulsory schooling. Schools are, however, already able to provide for publication the GCSE achievements of all pupils in year 11, regardless of age, and value added measures will soon help give a fuller picture of school performance.