HL Deb 30 March 1988 vol 495 cc757-8

Lord Peston asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied with the present state of preparation for taking the general certificate of secondary education.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Education and Science (Baroness Hooper)

Yes, my Lords, the recently published HMI interim report on the GCSE provides reassuring evidence that the new examination is being successfully introduced. It is also already leading to better teaching and learning in many schools. We will of course continue to monitor progress carefully.

Lord Peston

My Lords, perhaps I may say to the Minister how pleased I am to have that Answer to my Question. Will she take this opportunity to utter a word of criticism to that small minority of people who seem to be going out of their way to undermine this important educational development?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, indeed. Considerable time and effort over the past decade have gone into the planning of the GCSE, probably more than for any other examination or curriculum change of which we are aware. We believe that people should support the change by using their best efforts to make it a success.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the criticism that has been directed against the teaching of history for the GCSE, especially in East Sussex? Will she ensure that history is taught in a way which leads children to know about the past and not just to sympathise with the so-called empathy of their teachers?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, the debate over empathy goes wider than the GCSE, which merely seeks to reflect different approaches to history and not to dictate them. Empathy has not been introduced into history by the GCSE; it is an approach that has been developed by some teachers over quite a few years. Those seeking to damn all GCSE history because of disagreement with the approach of a particular syllabus should examine the full range of syllabuses. Freedom of choice of syllabuses exists to cater for different views.

Lord Dormand of Easington

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the most important aspect of this examination is that it is a different kind of examination? In those circumstances, having regard to what some people have said about the shortage of time, quite apart from materials, is she satisfied with the kind of teaching that is being carried out for this exam? Some of us think that it is being done in a rather short time. Are the necessary criteria being met?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, as I said in my original Answer, the interim report that we have received from HMI is reassuring. It informed us that the introduction of the GCSE is already leading to better teaching and learning in many schools. That must be my answer.

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