§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the rights given to parents under the parents charter if they consider that performance of the Scottish Office in education is inadequate.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe parents charter relates to parents' rights in respect of the direct provision of education for their children, which in large part is the responsibility of education authorities. Parents will have new rights, through school boards, to have their interests taken into account when a school is inspected by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how frequently Her Majesty's inspectorate will inspect(a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary schools under the parents charter proposals.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythUnder the parents charter all schools will be required to produce a document setting out their educational plans and targets for two years ahead, and to report on progress over the previous two years.
Future levels of inspection will be set in the context of this enhanced system for quality assurance. Inspections will be undertaken more frequently where that is necessary and a greater emphasis will be placed on follow-up inspections. For next year, I anticipate that the number of schools inspected is likely to be about 25 to 30 per cent. higher than in the current Session.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what rights the parents charter gives in nursery education.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe provision of nursery education is not a statutory requirement: it is a matter for individual education authorities to consider in the light of the needs and priorities of their areas. I expect, however, that education authorities will wish to apply the principles of the parents charter, wherever appropriate, for the benefit of parents of pupils at nursery schools.