HC Deb 09 July 1997 vol 297 cc926-7
4. Mr. Ian Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on trends in educational standards in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years. [5893]

Mr. Worthington

The percentage of pupils gaining 5 GCSEs at grades A to C in the past 10 years increased from 35 to 52 per cent. The percentage achieving two A-levels at grades A to E increased from 19.7 to 30.8 per cent. However, that will not he enough, and further improvements will be necessary to meet national targets.

Mr. Bruce

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that answer. Is it not indicative of the fact that young people in Northern Ireland have demonstrated to their elders that they can get on and live together and improve what they are doing? Is it not about time that some hon. Members, inside and outside this place, took note of the excellence of what they have done?

Mr. Worthington

I am not sure that I see the link between gaining A-levels and living peacefully together, but I certainly echo the sentiments that the hon. Gentleman expressed.

Mr. Godman

I remind my hon. Friend that, in the last Parliament, the Select Committee on Northern Ireland, in its report on under-achievement in the education system in Northern Ireland, voiced its serious concern about the prevalence of under-achievement in schools in areas badly marked by social disadvantage. What is he going to do in response to that fine report?

Mr. Worthington

I agree that it was a fine report, and I congratulate my hon. Friend on his contribution to it. We are responding; a Command Paper will be published that will show my hon. Friend just how seriously we have taken the report.

The fact is that, although the achievements at the top of the Northern Ireland education system are fine, there is still a considerable tail to be dealt with. We are looking at all aspects of the report, including the raising school standards initiative and the targeting of social need, to see what improvements we can make.

Mr. Brooke

Against the background of one third selection at secondary level in Northern Ireland, does the Minister agree that the improvement at the bottom of the spectrum has been faster in Northern Ireland in the past decade than in Great Britain? Does he see any moral for, or any read-across into, the affairs of Great Britain?

Mr. Worthington

It is important, and a major challenge for the Government, to secure the full incorporation of vocational and academic qualifications to provide the right kind of curriculum and opportunities for everyone.