§ 13. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Education if he will vary the grant Regulations to enable children in secondary modern schools to be entered for 2289 examinations other than the general certificate of education if the head teacher and staff so desire.
§ Sir D. EcclesI shall consider carefully the comments on this and other points, sent to me in reply to the Circular (289) which I issued on examinations in secondary schools. As yet, however, I am not satisfied that the change suggested by the hon. Member would be in the best interests of the schools and their pupils.
§ Dr. KingI am grateful to the Minister for his sympathetic reply. Is he aware that the aim of secondary modern education is not merely to provide certain able children with an opportunity to take the school certificate, but to cater for all kinds of ability, some of which may be measured by other examinations, in the opinion of the headmaster, and that such examinations give some sort of spur and stimulus to new groups of children? Will he bear these things in mind when he considers this question?
§ Sir D. EcclesYes, I will. This is a very complicated question, as the hon. Member knows.