This paper estimates the impact of the specialist schools programme in England on exam performance at the end of compulsory education (at age 16). Two approaches are used. The first uses pupil level data obtained from the 2003 National Pupil Database. The second uses panel data methods and is...

Differences between ethnic groups in educational attainment and transition from school are investigated using pooled cross-sectional data for the period 1992-98 obtained from the Youth Cohort Studies, School Performance Tables and the Schools' Census. After controlling for family background,...