Technology (Hansard, 2 June 1992)

§ Mr. John Patten

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have agreed, in the light of the advice that I have received from the National Curriculum Council, that there is a case for a detailed review of the statutory order for technology in the national curriculum. The principal objectives of such a review will be to specify more clearly the skills and knowledge which pupils should acquire at each stage so that progression can be secured, to enhance the practical element, and to improve the manageability of the curriculum in the classroom. We are therefore asking Her Majesty's inspectors of schools to undertake an urgent review of the relevant statements of attainment and programmes of study, to allow Her Majesty's chief inspectors of schools for England and for Wales, when appointed, to report to us jointly in the autumn.

I am determined to increase teachers' expectations of childrens' abilities. This is vital for children and for their eventual employers. The more that children are encouraged to achieve the better their employment prospects.

The terms of reference of the review will be as follows:

1. To review the programmes of study for attainment targets 1–4 of the Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in 448 Technology) Order 1990 so as to clarify what should be taught and in particular to ensure that the technical skills, knowledge and understanding of all pupils at all stages are developed through work with and in relation to construction materials and related components and systems.
2. To revise the existing statements of attainment and related non-statutory examples to facilitate the assessment of the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired by pupils and of the quality of their work and what they produce, and in particular to

—identify and specify the skills and knowledge which pupils should acquire at each of the key stages, and indicate where appropriate how these could be developed through a range of technological activities;
—identify and specify the range, depth and level of teaching and learning appropriate to the skills and knowledge at each key stage, so that progression is secured;
—in the light of the above, to propose the apportionment of an appropriate range of materials and contexts across and within the four key stages; giving particular attention to reducing the complexity and amount of work required in each key stage, and to improving the manageability of the curriculum and assessment, particularly at the primary level;
—clarify how and when the skills, knowledge and understanding developed through other Curriculum Orders should be made use of in Technology (eg mathematics, science and art).

3. To design a framework for short courses at key stage 4, which maintains the basic conceptual approach of the Order, but offers within it a range of choices able to meet the needs of pupils of different interests and abilities and flexible enough to permit extension into or combination with other—particularly vocationally-oriented—areas of work or study.

On completion of the review my right hon. Friend and I will prepare our proposals for a new statutory order governing national curriculum technology, which will be subject to the full statutory process of consultation provided for in the Education Reform Act 1988. We would expect it to be possible for a revised order to be implemented in the schools in August 1994 for key stages 1, 2 and 3 (pupils up to 14) and in August 1995 for key stage 4 (14–16 year olds). In the meantime, the existing curriculum order will continue in force for key stages 1–3 and will be implemented as planned for key stage 4 in the autumn of 1993.

The School Examinations and Assessment Council will accordingly be publishing shortly its criteria for GCSE and equivalent examination syllabuses, which will apply to courses beginning in the autumn term 1993 and 1994. These are based upon the existing order but have been designed to take account of the objectives of the review I have announced today.

I am placing in the Library of the House the advice I have received from the National Curriculum Council and my reply.