§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is taking steps to ensure that head teachers and governors are adequately trained for their expanded duties under the Education Reform Bill; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsIn 1989–90 the Government propose to extend the national priority areas for head teachers;' management training to include training to implement local education authority schemes of financial delegation to schools. The Government also propose that education support grant should be made available for the training of governors. Grant is expected to be available to support expenditure of £420,000 in 1989–90 to enable LEAs to develop their training strategies and materials for school and college governors.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent he proposes to impose tests in Wales at the age of seven years; if the results will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Secretaries of State for Wales and for Education and Science have decided, in the light of the favourable reception to the recommendations of the task group on assessment and testing, and after subsequent consultations, to adopt the main principles, including the setting of attainment targets for seven-year olds, and for performance in relation to those targets to be assessed and reported on. In Wales, pupils receiving instruction in the medium of Welsh will be assessed in Welsh.
It is not intended that individual's results will be published, but aggregated results at the ages of 11, 14 and 16 should be, so that the wider public can make informed judgments about attainment in a school or LEA.