§ 5. Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on his recent proposals for the use of the fifth or final secondary year when the school leaving age is raised to 16.
§ 32. Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for allowing a further education option for 15-year-olds when the school leaving age is raised to 16 years.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI am considering the comments which I have recently received from local authority, teacher and other associations concerned, in the context of the preparation of new legislation.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI understand, of course, that this matter requires careful consideration, but will the Secretary of State nevertheless make it clear that if he varies the places in which education in the fifth year can take place, that education will always be under the aegis of the school from which the pupil comes?
§ Mr. ShortThis is a point of view, and it is a point of view with which I do not wholly agree. We have to face the fact that over the next decade there must be a great deal of intermingling between secondary schools and places of further education. We cannot afford, either from the point of view of resources or of finance to keep them in watertight compartments, and I hope that everyone concerned will realise this and try to cooperate.
§ Mr. SilvesterAm I not right in saying that the work on the curriculum that has been done in the last few years has been done on the basis that the pupils will remain in schools? What work has been done on the proposition that they could carry on this extra year in colleges of further education?
§ Mr. ShortI do not think that the Schools Council has done any work on the basis of this proposition which I put out for discussion. I do not suggest for a moment that all pupils should spend the fifth year in a college of further education, but I do suggest that for a great many students who are able to do it now it does make sense.