GCSE (Hansard, 18 March 1986)

§ Mr. Hancock
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what provision has been made in extra rate support grant or education support grant for local education authorities to purchase new books and equipment as a result of the changes in the examination system to the general certificate of secondary education;
(2) what extra resources have been allocated to local education authorities for the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education.

§ Mr. Chris Patten
I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 13 March at column542.

§ Mr. Hancock
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the proportion of teachers who have completed training for the general certificate of secondary education examination.

§ Mr. Chris Patten
The programme of phase 2 of GCSE training for subject representatives is now well under way. From information available to the Department and the Secondary Examination Council it would appear that attendance at these seminars has been of the order of 50 to 60 per cent. My right hon. Friend, in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr Thompson) on 13 March at column542, announced further measures designed to ensure that all teachers of the GCSE received appropriate training for the new examination courses.
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§ Mr. Hancock
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has received from local authorities which are having difficulties in implementing the new general certificate of secondary education examination.

§ Mr. Chris Patten
The Department has received a number of representations from local education authorities about the introduction of the GCSE raising, in particular, concerns about the training programme and resources for schools. My right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North, (Mr. Thompson) on 13 March, at column542. set out three measures in direct response to these requests.