§ 20. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to ensure that, where secondary modern school pupils, at their own or their parents' request, wish to sit for the General Certificate of Education examination, they are enabled to do so.
§ Sir D. EcclesWe are improving the staffing and premises of the secondary modern schools so that increasing numbers of pupils may have the opportunity of taking G.C.E. and other extended courses. It is for head teachers to say what examination a pupil should attempt.
§ Mr. SwinglerI applaud the progress made in secondary modern schools to enable pupils to take the G.C.E. Is the Minister aware that there are still complaints from some areas that parents who desire their children attending secondary modern schools to take subjects for G.C.E. find that they are prevented from doing so by the local education authority? Will the Minister exercise some influence over the local education authorities in order to ensure that a higher number of secondary modern schools put in pupils for the G.C.E.?
§ Sir D. EcclesThe local education authorities must make what they consider to be the best use of the teachers available. If the hon. Member would like to send me any information of cases which he has, I will look into them.