HC Deb 01 December 1987 vol 123 cc750-2
7. Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a further statement on the progress towards establishing city technology colleges.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Angela Rumbold)

Sponsorships for four city technology colleges have already been announced. The Kingshurst CTC will open next year, and the Nottingham CTC in 1989. We are making good progress in discussions with a number of other prospective sponsors.

Mr. Fisher

How does the Minister account for the fact that, after such a long time, she can produce only such a microscopically small list of achievements? Does she attribute that to the unpopularity of the idea with business and parents, or to its total irrelevance?

Mrs. Rumbold

It may disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but the initiative was announced just over a year ago by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. We have four city technology colleges on the stocks. More city technology colleges will be commenced in the near future. We shall certainly make announcements about them in the not too distant future.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Did my hon. Friend see the article in last Friday's edition of The Timesby Dr. John Rae, a former headmaster of Westminster school? He said that there were some disturbing implications in the sort of syllabus that would be in order at Kingshurst CTC. Will she confirm that we are looking for high standards at that school?

Mrs. Rumbold

We are most certainly looking for high standards at Kingshurst and, with the appointment of Mrs. Valerie Bragg, I am confident that we shall achieve them.

Mr. George Howarth

Is the Minister aware that any attempt to establish a CTC in Knowsley by scurrying around with officials like thieves in the night would be extremely ill-received by the population at large, teaching staff and parents in the area?

Mrs. Rumbold

The hon. Gentleman clearly does not know that the local education authority approached the Department to see whether it would be possible for us to visit the area to help set up a CTC.

Mr. Ashdown

The Minister will know that the Government have deliberately excluded their pet CTCs from the state curriculum. Do they not have even that much faith in their own convictions?

Mrs. Rumbold

The hon. Gentleman is mistaken. CTCs will be encouraged to follow the national curriculum, but they will have time allocated to them to pursue technology and science, which is what we expect from them.

Mr. Tim Smith

Does my hon. Friend agree that the term "city technology college" is rather ambiguous? Might it not equally be used to describe Eton college, which teaches the technology of the City to would-be market makers and commodity dealers? Could that not be what the Old Etonian who tabled the question had in mind?

Mrs. Rumbold

Sadly, I am unable to read the mind of the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher). I believe that the name city technology college is excellent and that it will attract many parents, as is the case at Kingshurst.

Mr. Fatchett

Now that it is clear that the Government have failed to sell the scheme to industrialists, will the Minister say what criteria will be used in the only CTC that is off the ground and running — that in Solihull — to assess parents? We know that they are to be tested if their children are to gain a place there. What will happen if the child passes the test and the parents fail? Does the Department have a view about whether the parent or the child should attend the college?

Mrs. Rumbold

The hon. Gentleman displays much ignorance. A substantial number of industrialists—more since June — have expressed an interest in the idea of CTCs. It is with confidence that we shall establish the full 20 CTCs in the not too distant future. Children in comprehensive schools are being interviewed with their parents, as we have always made it clear that we want commitment from both. They should attend because CTCs provide the type of education that they want. At Solihull we now have more than 300 applicants for 180 places.