§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to ensure that secondary school students from Northern Ireland can continue to undertake examinations set by examining boards in England and Wales at both GCSE and A-level; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThere is no change to the arrangements whereby NI schools may choose A-level syllabuses offered by examining boards in England and Wales.
At GCSE, pupils commencing courses in key stage 4 in September 1993 in English, mathematics and science, business studies, drama and home economics must follow the statutory programmes of study in those subjects and the Department of Education will approve only those GCSE syllabuses which confirm to the programmes of study. The Department invited examining boards in England and Wales to submit syllabuses for approval, in these subjects, but none has done so for courses commencing in September 1993, although interest has been expressed in offering syllabuses for approval for 1994. Schools may offer GCSE syllabuses in all other subjects set by examining boards in England and Wales for courses commencing in September 1993.