§ 35. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the general dissatisfaction with the examination for Senior Leaving Certificate, he will reconsider the whole question of the use of this examination before next year.
§ Mr. WestwoodI am not aware of any general dissatisfaction with the examination for the Senior Leaving Certificate, though my attention has been drawn to criticism arising from certain conjectures and mis-statements which have recently received publicity. The future of this examination will be considered in the light of the report on secondary education which I shall soon be receiving from the Advisory Council on Education in Scotland.
§ Mr. RankinWill the Minister bear in mind, when reconsidering this question, that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction with the method of awarding this certificate, and that this examination should not be merely a selective test but a test of attainment at the end of the period of secondary training?
§ Mr. WestwoodI extended the life of the Advisory Committee by three months to enable them to complete their investigations and report to me on this problem. I have nothing further to add until I have received their report.