§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will accept A-level design and technology as a qualification for entrance to the executive officer grade of the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeI have consulted the Civil Service Commissioners on this question, as they are responsible for standards of entry into the Civil Service. They have until recently taken the view that the A-level course in this subject lacked the academic breadth and intellectual depth they thought necessary to justify its use. with only one other A-level subject, for entry to executive officer competitions.
They have, however, been reveiwing, with advice from the Department of Education and Science, the content of a number of design and technology syllabuses and have decided to accept the A-level awards of certain examining boards. The commissioners will make this change clear to all who wish to take part in the school leavers' competition for executive officer posts to be held later this year.