HC Deb 08 November 1988 vol 140 cc158-9
3. Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on progress in introducing the national curriculum.

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

In accordance with my right hon. Friend's declared timetable, work on the core subjects—mathematics, science and English—is now well advanced. Work on the other foundation subjects will follow. We intend to introduce the national curriculum progressively from autumn 1989 onwards.

Mr. Latham

Does my hon. Friend recall from correspondence that head teachers in rural schools in my constituency are worried that the introduction of the national curriculum will be adversely affected by the new rules on charging for educational visits and expeditions? Will she confirm that it cannot have been any intention of Ministers to reduce educational opportunities in that way?

Mrs. Rumbold

The Government's new proposals on charging will not affect either the principle of free education in our schools or the national curriculum or other curricular subjects. However, there have been some considerable misunderstandings about the Government's new charging proposals. Before the Education Reform Act was passed, some authorities were charging for some activities in schools. Those authorities were taken to court and the court ruled against them. The local authorities then asked the Department of Education and Science to clarify the situation and after considerable consultation on the Education Reform Act we have attempted to fall in with what local authority associations suggested to us on charging for activities in schools. There are three general rules: first, charges for board and lodgings may be made; secondly, charges for any activities that take place wholly or mainly out of school hours may be made; thirdly, indivdual music lessons may be charged for. For other visits to theatres or museums during school hours, parents may be asked to make voluntary contributions. If the parents so decide—they have a choice about whether to do so—those activities can continue.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Does the Minister recall the Secretary of State giving a guarantee that testing at 11 would not become a means of reintroducing the 11-plus through the back door? How is that compatible with the system in the borough of Trafford, which still has grammar schools and the 11-plus? It is important that we have a proper answer to that.

Mrs. Rumbold

Any school that currently administers the 11-plus as part of its admissions policy will be able to continue to do so. That will not cut across the assessment processes that will be part and parcel of the introduction of the national curriculum, where all children will be assessed at the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16. The tests that are taken at 11, 14 and 16 will be aggregated and published.

Mr. Boswell

Does my hon. Friend accept that many teachers now welcome the national curriculum, but that there is some anxiety among professionals about the amount of time available for training teachers in their new duties, particularly those who also have to carry out teaching responsibilities in the smaller schools?

Mrs. Rumbold

Yes. My hon. Friend will be glad to learn that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced two extra days to allow teachers to complete adequate in-service training for the introduction of the national curriculum.