§ Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Minister of Education whether he will announce a decision on the proposals to establish certificate of secondary education examinations contained in the Fifth Report of the Secondary Schools Examinations Council.
§ Sir E. BoyleI have received the comments of the associations of teachers and local authorities and they are generally in favour of the arrangements suggested in the Report. I am, therefore, informing the Chairman of the Secondary School Examinations Council that I approve the proposals and that I look forward to receiving, during the first half of 1963, the Council's recommendations on the establishment of regional examining bodies, so that the first examinations can be conducted in the summer of 1965.
I am now consulting the associations about a number of other practical steps that need to be taken to implement the Council's proposals. When these consultations are complete, I intend to issue a circular and to lay amending Regulations before Parliament.