§ 6. Dr. Twinnasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards the establishment of grade-related criteria for examinations.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe Secondary Examinations Council started work last month on developing grade-related criteria for a first batch of 10 subjects at GCSE. The council hopes to publish draft criteria for these subjects in the summer next year and to invite comments on them. The council plans to tackle further subjects next year.
§ Dr. TwinnDespite the misgivings expressed by some members of the teaching profession, does my right hon. Friend agree that the introduction of grade-related criteria examinations will be widely welcomed by parents, who are concerned about the introduction of absolute standards in school testing, and by employers, who need to know the value of the qualifications being offered?
§ Sir Keith JosephI agree that grade-related criteria should motivate teachers, pupils and parents, and give more information to employers. I am very glad that the Secondary Examinations Council and the examination boards are finding it possible to embark so quickly on the task.
§ Mr. SheermanIt is important that examinations should be able properly to measure competence, but is it not also important to understand that in our schools and education establishments we must have the resources to bring people up to the competence that is then examined? Is that not the real fault in the education system under the Secretary of State's government?
§ Sir Keith JosephResources are certainly an essential ingredient, but it is wrong to hammer away, as the Opposition do, at the assumption that resources alone control results. That is the constant chorus of Opposition Members. Resources matter, but the effectiveness of the teachers and the motivation of the children matter even more.