HC Deb 07 April 1981 vol 2 cc802-3
6. Mr. Thornton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what requirement there will be upon local education authorities and schools to implement his schools curriculum document.

Mr. Mark Carlisle

None, but I shall shortly be issuing a circular which will invite authorities to formulate a policy for the curriculum in their area; to make themselves aware of current provision in their schools; and to plan future developments in the light of the guidance in our statement.

Mr. Thornton

As many parents, teachers and employers are concerned that some local education authorities may choose to ignore the guidance, will my right hon. and learned Friend ensure that his Department not only monitors the curriculum but also impresses on LEAs the importance of curriculum guidance?

Mr. Carlisle

I have no reason to believe that any local education authority will ignore the document, which has been widely accepted, but we shall issue a circular to draw it to their attention formally. In about two years we shall ask what change has been made.

Mr. Kinnock

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the document was described by The Times Educational Supplement as verbiage? How does he have the gall to impose new obligations by circular or by law on LEAs only six weeks after Her Majesty's Inspectorate published a document showing that the curriculum was being significantly damaged because of Government expenditure cuts?

Mr. Carlisle

If money is short, that is all the more reason to make sure that we obtain the best possible value for it and that more thought is given to the planning of the curriculum. We make it clear in the document that we realise that the restraint on facilities will affect the speed of implementation.

Mr. William Shelton

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that his document is widely welcomed throughout the educational establishment and that the only regret is that it was not published by the Labour Government years ago?

Mr. Carlisle

I am aware that, apart from The Times Educational Supplement, on the whole, the document had a good press.