Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect of expanding the number of selective schools on the performance of non-selective schools in that area.

The consultation 'Schools that Work for Everyone' set out our proposal to increase the number of selective schools, stating that at the same time we want to improve the educational outcomes for those who do not attend selective schools. The evidence on the performance of pupils in selective areas who are not in selective schools shows mixed results. Some studies find an association with slightly poorer average educational outcomes for these pupils[1], or only for those in areas with high proportions of selective places[2], whilst another study found no adverse effects for pupils in other schools[3]. The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and its intention is to publish its response in due course.

[1] Atkinson, A., Gregg, P. and McConnell, B. (2004) The results of 11 Plus selection: an investigation into equity and efficiency of outcomes for pupils in selective LEAs, cited in Coe et al (2008) Evidence on the effects of selective educational systems, CEM Centre, Durham University for the Sutton Trust

[2] Andrews, J., Hutchinson, J., and Johnes, R. (2016) Grammar schools and social mobility. Education Policy Institute.

[3] Sutton Trust (2008) ‘Evidence on the effects of selective educational systems’ by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, Durham University’