HC Deb 21 June 1988 vol 135 cc523-4W
30. Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is in a position to assess the success of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement.

60. Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is in a position to assess the success of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

Her Majesty's inspectorate's interim report on the GCSE provided reassuring evidence that the new examination is being successfully introduced and is already leading to better teaching and learning in many schools. HMI is continuing to monitor progress and will publish a further report in the autumn. The Secondary Examinations Council (SEC) and the examining groups are already reviewing syllabuses and procedures.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements are being made for those candidates who wish to resit this summer's GCSE examination, including those where an assessment of course work is part of the examination; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

The GCSE examining groups will provide opportunities for pupils to resit GCSE in the winter on a comparable basis to what was available in the past for O-level and GCSE examinations. The groups have also generally made arrangements for GCSE coursework to be carried forward in circumstances where a pupil changes school during the course or resits the examination. Detailed information relating to the arrangements in a particular subject or syllabus is available from the group concerned.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many cases of incorrect or late arrival of GCSE papers have been reported; what were the comparable figures under the previous GCE/CSE system; and what steps he is taking to ensure that no further such errors occur.

Mrs. Rumbold

The distribution of GCSE papers is entirely the responsibility of the examining groups. The Secondary Examinations Council and the examining groups are collaborating to review the experience of the first GCSE examinations this summer and to make any necessary administrative improvements quickly.