HC Deb 14 February 1978 vol 944 cc215-7
1. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions she has had with local education authorities on expansion of schools' curricula into new subjects.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science and Paymaster-General (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

None, Sir. I have, however, invited local education authorities to review and report on their arrangements for the school curriculum, including ways of promoting an appropriate balance between the basic skills and other curricular areas.

Mr. Dykes

I thank the Secretary of State for her reply. In the general debate about the desirability of introducing new subjects from time to time, does the right hon. Lady agree that, by contrast, there is very great anxiety amongst parents, employers and the children themselves that they should have a proper grounding in the three Rs plus the fourth R, which is religious instruction? What does the Secretary of State intend to do to promote those desirable objectives as well as anything else?

Mrs. Williams

In the Green Paper we have made it clear that we have put very great emphasis on the achievement of basic literacy and numeracy. My Assessment of Performance Unit has sent out a consultative document about the first set of questions on the assessment of achievement in mathematics. As for religious instruction, I have made it clear that I believe that religious education should remain a compulsory part of the curriculum.

Mr. Bryan Davies

Has not my right hon. Friend noticed that even the Conservative Party is concerned about too narrow a school curriculum and that it is concerned, too, about political illiteracy in schools? Can we hear a little less about the Gradgrind regime of the nineteenth century and give greater consideration to a balanced curriculum?

Mrs. Williams

It is very important to have a balanced curriculum. It is becoming more and more widely accepted that one aspect of that curriculum needs to be the education of children in the society of which they are a part, and not least in the political democracy to which they belong.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Does the Minister recall that in June last year she or her junior Minister—I cannot remember which—expressed some sympathy with my suggestion that elementary law and commercial practice should be taught in our schools? As these subjects will affect children for the rest of their lives in one way or another, when she has discussions will she urge and encourage the inclusion of these subjects even at elementary level in our State schools?

Mrs. Williams

The hon. Gentleman will, I think, accept that, at least in some general studies courses, there is reference to current law, not least to law of the sort that will affect children as citizens. He illustrates the dilemma of all Secretaries of State for Education that there are always far more subjects that ought to be contained in the curriculum than can be contained in it. It is important that we should have as far as possible a sense of priority.