Written question asked by Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 19 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 March 2003. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Monday, 31 March 2003 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which schools in Northern Ireland participated in the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA); on what basis these schools were selected; and what average length of time was taken for each school to complete the PISA.

Answer: Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which schools in Northern Ireland participated in the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA); on what basis these schools were selected; and what average length of time was taken for each school to complete the PISA. [104512] Jane Kennedy: In keeping with the National Statistics Code of Practice, the identities of schools taking part in the PISA survey are confidential to the Office for National Statistics and the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Schools were selected at random in proportion to the number of their pupils born in 1987. The list of schools was first stratified according to the following: School type (secondary/grammar/independent) Secondary and grammar schools were grouped further according to their GCSE results. All the sub-groups thus produced were divided according to the five Education and Library Board areas. PISA assessments and pupil questionnaires take three hours to administer. Principals are also asked to spend 40 minutes on a questionnaire about the school.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 104512; 402 c536-7W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Assessments Northern Ireland Pupils Standards Programme for International Student Assessment
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk