§ 9. Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further research he proposes to undertake into the relationship between money spent on education in the maintained sector, and the results achieved, and into the other non-financial factors which may affect the results achieved.
§ Sir Keith JosephI announced in March that I had asked the Department to undertake further studies into the factors affecting examination results in schools so that I could assess the potential value of further research. These studies will be completed soon and I expect to make a further statement in the autumn.
§ Mr. ThompsonI hope that my right hon. Friend will take advice on this from those—supported by the recent evidence—who believe that good results in schools flow directly from good staff morale and—as we heard in the previous question—from a high standard of leadership from headmasters, and not from outside interference. Do not our schools already suffer from over-administration and from those who confuse education with indoctrination?
§ Sir Keith JosephI agree that the curriculum, quality of teaching and the vitality and the skill of the head teachers are crucial.