HC Deb 17 May 1988 vol 133 cc795-7
11. Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further proposals he has to improve the teaching of English in schools, in the light of the responses received to the Kingman report.

12. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further action he proposes to take in the light of the responses received to the Kingman report, on the teaching of English in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has asked the new English working group to take account of relevant Kingman report recommendations in its work on attainment targets and programmes of study for English as a whole. He will consider the other Kingman recommendations in due course in the light of public reaction and the English working group's advice.

Mr. Smith

Does my hon. Friend agree that the traditional method of teaching English in schools, with its emphasis on grammar, on construction and on spelling, has many virtues? Will she ensure that, as far as possible, these basic elements are retained as part of the national curriculum?

Mrs. Rumbold

I can assure my hon. Friend that we are asking the English working group to recommend attainment targets covering the grammatical structure of the English language, building on the Kingman targets.

Mr. Greenway

Does my hon. Friend agree that children develop their imagination and skill in writing from having freedom to write without too much grammatical constraint, but will she bear in mind that the English language has its cement in its grammar and that that is English language at its greatest and its best? Will she ensure that grammar teaching is preserved?

Mrs. Rumbold

We are most anxious that the English working group should build on the recommendations of the Kingman report and look at the structure of grammar. We certainly expect our children to be able to read, write and speak English, and to enjoy literature.

Mr. Hardy

Does the Minister not accept that the curbing of expenditure on books for schools and public libraries over recent years has scarcely assisted attainments in both the teaching of English and reading? Does he not accept that during the previous period substantial attainments were made?

Mrs. Rumbold

I always accept that there has been progress in teaching in our schools, because, of course, there has. However, there have been considerable advances during the past two years in the amounts of money that have been allocated for schools, especially for books. Indeed, there has been an 8 per cent. increase in the allocation for books and equipment in the current year.

Mr. Sackville

Does my hon. Friend agree that parents expect—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. Private conversations should cease while we are on questions.

Mr. Sackville

Does my hon. Friend agree that parents expect their children to acquire at least the basic skills at school, of which the use of English must be one of the most important? Does she agree that an alarming difference has grown up between the teaching profession on the one hand, and parents and employers on the other as to what exactly constitutes education?

Mrs. Rumbold

My hon. Friend will be reassured by the fact that for our core subjects in the national curriculum we have chosen English, mathematics and science. It is perfectly true that many employers have complained that some of the children leaving school do not have the adequate literacy and numeracy that they believe necessary. That is the reason for the introduction of the national curriculum.