Education: Secondary Schools

Lord Watts Excerpts

Monday 25th April 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

As I have said, the number of schools with excess pupils has gone down. Bigger is not necessarily worse, but I completely accept the noble Lord’s point that the transition from primary school to secondary school is particularly important. That is why a lot of primary schools collaborate with secondary schools in their area and give primary school pupils the chance to visit secondary schools so that they understand that transition. A lot of secondary schools are looking at how they can help their new intake of young people get used to that situation. A lot of work is being done, and a lot of that is school-to-school work, because it is well known that that is an issue for many children.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister said that 90% of parents get one of their top three choices. What percentage get their first choice?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

For primary schools, 87.8% got their preferred choice, and for secondary schools, 84.2% got their top choice.