School Standards (Hansard, 5 July 1983)

§ 19. Mr. Beith
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to improve standards in schools.

§ Sir Keith Joseph
We shall continue to encourage local education authorities and schools to develop and implement curriculum policies. We shall respond to needs identified through the technical and vocational education initiative and the projects we are funding to develop a more practical curriculum for lower attaining pupils. We shall 148 promote improvements in the selection, training and deployment of teachers. We have established the Secondary Examinations Council. We shall continue to make available publicly reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate on formal inspections, and we shall seek further ways of widening parental choice and influence over their children's schooling.

§ Mr. Beith
Although we may have to await more reports from HMI before the Secretary of State recognises that standards cannot be improved while resources are being taken out of the service, can he say something about the research that he has commissioned—which we hope will be published soon—on the selection of headmasters? That is an important issue, which is related to standards in schools. Is the Secretary of State aware that the Open University has revealed many shortcomings in the existing system?

§ Sir Keith Joseph
With respect to the hon. Gentleman, I challenge him. Standards can be improved even if resources are not. We shall discuss the contents of the report to which the hon. Gentleman referred with local education authorities.

§ Mr. Eggar
Can we look forward to the wider introduction of pupil profiles, especially for low performers?

§ Sir Keith Joseph
Yes, I hope that we can make progress in that direction.

§ Mr. Robert C. Brown
Does the Secretary of State agree that, as there is a surfeit of teachers, it is scandalous that the Government are not taking an obvious step towards improving standards by reducing the pupil-teacher ratio still further?

§ Sir Keith Joseph
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for adding the words, "still further". Under the previous Government, the pupil-teacher ratio improved dramatically. Like all of his right hon. and hon. Friends, the hon. Gentleman seems to ignore the fact that, in the interests of vitality in the economy, and of employment, it is necessary to restrain Government spending. The alternative is higher taxes, high interest rates and more inflation.

§ Mr. Spence
Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the uptake of the microcomputers in schools programme? Does he agree that the programme has made a major contribution to improving standards and the qualifications of young people leaving school?

§ Sir Keith Joseph
The extent to which primary and secondary schools are accepting computers into the curriculum is very impressive and testifies well to the zeal of their teachers and governing bodies.

§ Mr. Eastham
Is not the reduction in education standards mainly the result of the Conservative Government's meanness with regard to rate support grant for educational materials such as books and equipment, which are essential if children are to receive a good education?

§ Sir Keith Joseph
That is palpably untrue. Expenditure in real terms per child in the schools, after allowing for rising prices, is at record levels. The reason why such important elements as books and maintenance have been 149 squeezed is that more has been allotted to teachers and to the pay of non-teaching staff than was budgeted for in the rate support grant and by local authorities.