New Examination System (Hansard, 17 July 1984)

§ 2. Mr. Madel
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, following his announcement of the new system of examinations at 16 years of age, he has received any representations from local education authorities as to the staffing implications of the new system; and if he will make a statement.

§ Sir Keith Joseph
I have received no such representations. Implementation of the national criteria will require some in-service training of teachers; but I do not foresee any increase in the total requirement for classroom teachers.

§ Mr. Madel
As the new system of examinations will result in more emphasis on the practical side of school work, does my right hon. Friend agree that it will provide new opportunities for those seeking jobs in the teaching profession? Does he accept that this will provide an additional incentive to restructure teachers' salaries to attract more people of quality into the profession?

§ Sir Keith Joseph
The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is yes. There are severe shortages already emerging in the craft, design and technology areas. The Government hope that the present negotiations on the restructuring of teachers' salaries will be successful.

§ Mr. Sheerman
Will the Secretary of State take on board the fact that the shortages to which he has referred underline what the Open University and other universities could do to meet the shortage of scientists? Will the right hon. Gentleman address himself to a problem that is worrying many experts, namely, that his demand for more practical tests will not be met for the 16-plus examinations because one fifth of our secondary schools are under-resourced for science and do not have the laboratories to carry out the necessary tests? That is what has happened under this Administration.

§ Sir Keith Joseph
The shortage of laboratories goes back a long time, but it does not affect anything like one fifth of the schools. There is scope for a practical element in tests in almost every subject. For instance, the new examinations will give more marks for oral, as opposed to literary, mastery of foreign languages. Opposition Members should not think that "practical" applies only to engineering and science subjects.