Selection by aptitude 'to be scrapped'

Labour MPs today seized on Government hints that most state schools are to be banned from selecting pupils according to aptitude.

Backbenchers said they were delighted by remarks by Schools Minister Stephen Twigg that the right of more than 1,000 specialist secondaries to choose up to 10

per cent of their intake may be scrapped. The practice of schools setting entry tests for pupils' aptitude at some subjects was heavily criticised by the Labour-dominated Commons Education Committee last week.

But Mr Twigg told the annual conference of the Professional Association of Teachers that it was possible to "have a kind of natural aptitude for sport and music" but there was "less of a case for the others".

Ending selection according to aptitude at technology, arts and languages is now likely to be unveiled in the Government's response to the MPs' report.

Mr Twigg said he and Education Secretary Charles Clarke

were "on the same wavelength on this". "We are considering their suggestion the 10 per cent aptitude requirement might be dropped and we will be responding in due course on that."

The Select Committee said there was no difference between selecting pupils according to their academic ability and their aptitude for a particular subject.