HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 cc246-7W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list each specialist school as at 1 September that had chosen to exercise the option to select up to 10 per cent. of pupils by aptitude together with(a) the nature of the specialism, (b) the status of the school, (c) the percentage of pupils selected, (d) the percentage of pupils with statements and (e) the percentage of pupils receiving free school meals. [20689]

Mr. Timms

The latest available information on aptitude selection is for school year 1999–2000. The following table shows the specialist schools which had selected a proportion of their pupils for that year by aptitude for a subject or subjects relevant to their specialist designation, together with the specialism of each school, the school's status, the percentage of pupils selected in each school, the percentage of pupils with statements and the percentage of all pupils receiving free school meals.

Mr. Timms

The latest available information for specialist schools which have chosen to exercise the option to select up to 10 per cent. of pupils by aptitude is for school year 1999–2000. This is the first year for which this information has been collected. Information for 2000–01 is due to be received shortly and will be available early in the new year.

Of the 403 Specialist Schools operational as of September 1999, 25 schools (6.2 per cent.) selected a proportion of their pupils by aptitude for a subject or subjects relevant to their specialist designation.