To examine attainments in all the secondary schools in one local education authority area and to account for differences in attainment with reference to school type and other `internal' school variables, using methods of multivariate analysis. Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions The attainments of 3 successive cohorts of 15 year old pupils were measured in terms of scores on objective tests of Scholastic Ability, English, Mathematics and Science. Background Variables School type, sex, verbal reasoning quotient (at age 11), primary school final mark, socio-economic status of parent.