Supplementary memorandum submitted by
David Miliband MP, Minister of State for School Standards (SA
50)
You asked for references to the external research
on the performance of children selected by aptitude, which David
Miliband had in mind when he wrote to Barry Sheerman on 12 January.
The letter was referring to a 1996 study the
Department commissioned from NFER's Martin Coffey and Chris Whetton,
entitled "Aptitude Tests and Technology—an investigation
of aptitude and its relationship with GCSE scores". On re-reading
it, however, it does not fully address David Chaytor's enquiry
for two reasons. First, the researchers were unable for practical
reasons to compare aptitude test scores at 11 with pupils' GCSE
outcomes five years later, so based their conclusions on "fit"
between GCSE outcomes and scores from tests administered to Year
11 pupils. Secondly, the non-verbal reasoning tests the study
used as aptitude tests would not meet the conditions for aptitude
tests in present admissions law.
I apologise for any confusion caused.
David Miliband's Office
19 January 2004
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