§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanisms are in place to ensure that specialist school subject designations correlate to pupil and parent demand; and if he will make a statement. [125708]
§ Mr. MilibandWe are encouraging Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to work in partnership with all secondary schools to develop a strategy that enables individual schools to establish a specialism that plays to their strengths but also contributes to achieving a balance of specialisms in their area.
Many LEAs have drawn up plans with schools for a specialist system across the whole of their local area. The Government are encouraging this approach while recognising the final decision on the choice of specialist application lies with the individual school. LEAs adopting a more strategic approach include the Excellence in Cities authorities and the six Diversity Pathfinder LEAs.