HC Deb 06 May 1986 vol 97 cc8-10
9. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the past month from the teachers' unions about the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education examination.

Mr. Chris Patten

My right hon. Friend has expressed to all the teachers' associations his willingness to receive any further and detailed comments they may have about the preparation for and funding of the introduction of the GCSE. The Department stands ready to consider these matters further.

Mr. Skinner

Is the Minister aware that nearly six weeks ago I sent a letter from a worried parent, Mr. Beal of New Houghton in my constituency, to the Secretary of State for Education and Science? The letter says that he is concerned about the examination going through. I have not yet had a reply from this deadbeat Secretary of State or the junior Minister who is trying to get his job. Is it not a scandal that the Minister cannot reply to my constituent in six weeks and at the same time is trying to tell parents and teachers to rush through this tinpot examination? Why does the Secretary of State not make way for somebody else?

Mr. Patten

I am grateful for that balanced contribution. I assure the hon. Gentleman that, in the light of his question, I shall see that his constituent receives an early reply. I am equally sure that the hon. Gentleman will want to reassure his constituent about the importance of this examination being introduced smoothly in September.

Mr. Pawsey

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the GCSE was demanded by teachers' unions, that it has been most thoroughly researched and prepared, and that £30 million has been made available by the Government, in addition to the sums provided by local authorities? Does he agree that the new examination will do a great deal to improve the quality of education in our schools?

Mr. Patten

I could not have put it better myself.

Mr. Freud

Will the Minister confirm that a substantial sum of money is being granted to north Yorkshire, and Ryedale in particular, for the GCSE? If that is true, will he do his best to let counties that are not having by-elections have similar grants?

Mr. Patten

Thanks to the education support grant, all local education authorities will be able to add to the capitation which, doubtless, they are making available for the introduction of the GCSE. That is what the £20 million is for — for all local education authorities. Unfortunately, some local education authorities do not have quite as much as they might like for that purpose. For example, Derbyshire, is spending £60,000 on overprinting all its stationery with the news that Derbyshire is a nuclear-free zone.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

Is my hon. Friend aware that the teachers' unions—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Baker

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is my hon. Friend aware——

Mr. Skinner

We've got the muesli vote in west Derbyshire.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman has had one question. He cannot keep interrupting other people's questions.

Mr. Baker

Is my hon. Friend aware that the teachers' unions are putting forward figures for the cost of the GCSE and the time that its introduction will take which are very much in excess of the figures and the time that his Department has produced? Will he quickly examine those figures and refute them, because everyone wants to see this important examination introduced?

Mr. Patten

I shall certainly ensure that we continue to put sensible figures into play. The fact is that there has been a good deal of exaggeration. There is a tendency for some teachers to pile all their ambitions into an argument about resources for the GCSE. Nevertheless, we want to have serious discussions with the teachers' associations about the resources for this most important examination.

Mr. O'Brien

Is the Minister aware of the situation that is faced by some of the heads in schools in my constituency where, out of a possible 97 syllabuses, only 27 have been received so far? The syllabuses that are being submitted need to be amended in many ways. Therefore, the teachers are having to draw up programmes only weeks before the introduction of the GCSE. Will the Minister take his head out of the sand and realise that there will be great difficulties in the introduction of the GCSE?

Mr. Patten

The arrangements for the introduction of syllabuses are exactly as they were when we first discussed that issue a couple of years ago. Over 235 syllabuses have now been approved. They are being mailed daily to schools. The arrangements for the approval of syllabuses are entirely on course.

Mr. Forth

Will my hon. Friend confirm that it was the teachers' unions that demanded this examination in the first place? What conclusions has my hon. Friend drawn as to the reason for the change of attitude now shown by the unions?

Mr. Patten

I still believe that the overwhelming majority of good and professional teachers want to see the examination introduced smoothly. Unfortunately, one or two people have been trying to use it as part of their pay dispute, but I hope that that will not apply to all teachers.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

Will the Minister tell us how his talks with the National Union of Teachers are going? Does he not accept that he has a short time to win public acceptance—the acceptance of parents, pupils and teachers—for the new examination? If the Government showed a little urgency and gave a little extra in resources, that good will could be won. What are the Government doing to achieve that?

Mr. Patten

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have been talking about the examination for the best part of 15 years. We only recently announced increased resources and training. But we are still talking to the teachers' associations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met the NUT, and the Department's officials are talking to some of the NUT's officials at the moment. I hope that it will be possible to persuade them to take part fully in making the examination the success that it deserves to be.