§ 12. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to review testing procedures for schools or to change the role of the new curriculum and advisory body in this area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattenI have asked Sir Ron Dearing to conduct a wide ranging review of the manageability of the national curriculum and the associated testing and assessment framework. The prospective remit of the new Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority is laid out in section 232 of the Education Bill currently before Parliament.
§ 27. Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about the current situation regarding school tests.
§ Mr. Robin SquireMost primary schools will have completed the tests of seven-year-olds. Fourteen-year-olds should have been sitting tests over the last week and a half. I deeply regret some teachers' boycott of these tests, which are necessary to monitor progress and raise standards.
My right hon. Friend has asked Sir Ron Dearing to conduct a review of the national curriculum and assessment framework. He expects to have Sir Ron's recommendations in July.
§ 26. Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet the representatives of teachers' organisations to discuss key stage testing.
§ Mr. Robin SquireMy right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting. Teacher associations should make their views known to Sir Ron Dearing, the chairman designate of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, who is conducting a review of the national curriculum and assessment.