HL Deb 24 January 1991 vol 525 cc328-30

3.5 p.m.

Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further developments there have been with the Government's plans for the assessment of 14–16 year-old pupils under the National Curriculum.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has responded positively to views expressed by the teaching profession in developing his predecessor's plans for flexible assessment arrangements for 16 year-old pupils.

Baroness David

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer, which I did not find very enlightening. In order to get the matter absolutely clear, can the Minister say whether the assessment for the National Curriculum at key stage 4 will be separate from the results of the GCSE, or will they be amalgamated? If an employer wants to know the results, and a young person has a grade A, B or C in GCSE, will that be the exact equivalent of the assessment for the National Curriculum?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, because the flexibility has only recently been introduced, the very specific arrangements for testing and attainment targets are still under discussion. The National Curriculum scales will be most commonly used. I promise and assure the House that all subjects will be tested against validated attainment tests. They will all be subject to consultation with the professions.

Baroness David

My Lords, can the Minister say when these matters will be straight—

Lord Thorneycroft

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether the discussions will include such bodies as the Confederation of British Industry in order to ascertain what can be done to reduce the number of pupils who seem to leave school unable to read, write or to do simple arithmetic?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, as regards the first question, I can tell the House that all these matters are being addressed at this time. The House will be informed of the detailed arrangements for each subject. That links closely with the second question from my noble friend. All the reforms to be put in place are precisely to address the issue of standards. Business and technical subjects are very much a core part of the National Curriculum.

Lord Ritchie of Dundee

My Lords, can the Minister say how the assessments made at the school leaving age will relate to the records of achievement which the Government have already piloted? Are the Government proposing to introduce this system? How will it relate to the assessments that are made at the school leaving age?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the record of achievement is a subject for another Question. Achievement in terms of examination results is only one part of the profile of a young person leaving school.

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, when these arrangements are completed will they be reduced to writing? Can my noble friend say what plans the Government have to publish them, and when?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, it is a firm commitment on the part of Government that the outside world shall know about the achievements of our young people in school.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, can the Minister say what are the Government's intentions concerning the individual school-by-school publication of results of the assessment of the National Curriculum? I believe that over a year ago there was some indication that the Government would say what they intended but, so far as I know, we have not heard anything. Can the Minister say what is intended and whether the intake of schools will be taken into account in the presentation of any results?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, that is an entirely different Question to the one on the Order Paper.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, I must protest. The Question on the Order Paper is a wide-ranging one on further developments in relation to the assessment of the National Curriculum. The question of publication is absolutely crucial.

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the Question on the Order Paper is about the method of assessment; it is not about the publication of results.

Baroness David

My Lords, perhaps I may ask one further question. As a result of the changes in the Government's plans there will be a need for a great deal of extra finance for education. Will more money be provided to schools for the extra text books and so on which will be needed?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, there has been a great deal of extra money directly related to the development of the National Curriculum. The Government will continue to address the needs of the National Curriculum when considering the budgets for schools.