The Schools Council (Hansard, 30 June 1983)

§ Baroness David
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The Earl of Swinton
My Lords, the present Schools Council is to be replaced by the Secondary Examinations Council, which was incorporated on 23rd May, and a school curriculum development body. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is discussing with the local authority associations detailed arrangements for the latter body.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, but does he not think that the Schools 368 Council has had to go on for a very long time since it was first announced in April 1982 that the Schools Council was to be abolished? That has been a very unsatisfactory and miserable situation for the staff who have been waiting to know what will happen.
May I put a few further questions about the curriculum body which is to follow? Has the chairman been appointed? Will it be Professor Blin-Stoyle, as was rumoured in the newspapers last week? When will the members and the staff be appointed? When will it be able to commission work? Will the new body or the Secondary Examinations Council be framing the curriculum? There was a recent article by Sir James Hamilton, an ex-Permanent Secretary, which suggested that the examination council would establish the framework for the curriculum. Ministers have certainly said that the curriculum would be more important than the examination.

§ The Earl of Swinton
My Lords, a number of questions have been asked by the noble Baroness, and I hope I can remember them as I proceed. I agree that there has been a delay. I do not think it is any secret that there have been negotiations with the local education authority associations which have not been altogether speedy.
As regards the staff, I know that they have suffered difficulties and I am sorry about it. However, some have already received provisional offers of appointment to the Secondary Examinations Council. It is hoped that the school curriculum development body will take advantage of the experience and expertise of the present Schools Council staff in making appointments. Others have already been accepted for voluntary redundancy.
As regards the chairman of the school curriculum development body, I wish to state absolutely categorically that no approach has been made to any individual to chair the new body. It is to be regretted that the article appeared in last Friday's Times Educational Supplement. It is hoped that the work of the curriculum development body will start in the autumn, but there are a few problems and negotiations are continuing, and it may be somewhat delayed.

§ Lord Stewart of Fulham
My Lords, can the noble Lord say anything about the various projects and plans for publication now being considered by the Schools Council? Will they be taken on by the curriculum body and brought to fruition? What will happen to the considerable income from royalties that now accrues to the Schools, Council for those publications?

§ The Earl of Swinton
In the main that will be for the new body to consider, but the Government will ask it to take over the few contractual commitments of the Schools Council which will still be in existence: that is, seven projects out of the current total of 24. I shall have to write to the noble Lord about the royalties but I imagine the position will probably be the same for the new body.

§ Lord Hankey
My Lords, in view of the controversies about the curricula for British school examinations, may we take it that the new body which has been formed will look at the international 369 baccalauréat examination and curriculum which has had extraordinary success in being adopted by international colleges all over the world?

§ The Earl of Swinton
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hankey, for mentioning that. As he is aware, he and I sit on the council of Atlantic College, which uses that. I am not altogether sure whether this will come under the heading of schools examination, but I am sure it is a point that my right honourable friend will consider.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, following up the Minister's answer to my noble friend Lord Stewart of Fulham, has the Minister considered the educational and financial case for continuing certain activities of the Schools Council that it has already embarked upon and letting them go on until March 1984? There is still uncertainty about this. If not, there will be a good deal of educational and financial loss, as a considerable amount of money has been put into the council. The extra money to continue there until March would, I understand be in the region of £80,000.

§ The Earl of Swinton
My Lords, I have nothing to add to what I said to the noble Lord, Lord Stewart of Fulham. My understanding is that the few contractual commitments of the Schools Council which will still be in existence will be continued—that is, seven projects out of a current total of 24. I understand that the other commitments will have been completed by then.