§ Sir D. Kaberryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that many GCE examination results in North-Eastern England are likely to be withheld because of the difficulties arising out of the implementation of the recommendations of the Wood inquiry into the Sacred Heart School at Teesside; and what action it is proposed to take to overcome this problem.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe National Association of Schoolmasters and the Union of Women Teachers have instructed those of their members who are examiners and moderators for CSE examinations to hold the pupils' papers and marks until they are advised by their organisations to send them to three examining boards in the North of England.
519WThe dispute at the Sacred Heart School lies between the governors as employers and the teachers as their employees. The discussions which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had with the parties concerned have satisfied us that there is no point of principle at stake which can justify the action being taken by NAS and UWT members.
My right hon. Friend has already deeply deplored this move, and I again urge the teachers concerned to cease their interference with the normal examination procedures and so avoid damaging the prospects of CSE pupils in seeking employment.