§ Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the Curriculum Study Group.
§ Sir D. EcclesHer Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, with the help of my Department, have for many years provided an advisory service in the field of the school curriculum and examinations. There is, however, general agreement within the education service on the need to extend and strengthen this advisory service, so that all concerned with the content of education can take the decisions which are properly theirs in the light of the best available knowledge and experience. I have therefore arranged for a number of Her Majesty's Inspectors and officers of my Department to be released from other duties, so that they can work closely and continuously70W together in a unit to be known as the Curriculum Study Group.
This Group will, however, provide only a nucleus of full-time staff to organise and co-ordinate studies involving many other bodies and individuals: arrangements will be made, appropriate to each field of study, to associate with the work of the Group the universities and other higher educational establishments, practising teachers, the local education authorities, research organisations, industry, professional institutions and others concerned with the content of education and examinations. Moreover, there will be no change in the existing pattern of powers and responsibilities in the Group's sphere of activity: it will be invested with no greater authority than is merited by the quality of its contribution to the work of the education service as a whole.