§ 17. James PurnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, What research his Department has conducted on the effect of smaller sized schools on(a) standards and (b) behaviour, with particular reference to under-achieving students. [108258]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggMy Department has not conducted any research on the effects of smaller sized schools on standards or on behaviour.
However a statistical bulletin we published in June 2002, on pupil progress by secondary school type, found that pupils in schools with year group cohorts of under 100 pupils made less progress than those in larger cohorts.