Schools: Standards (Hansard, 25 June 1997)

Lord Lucas
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they hope to prevent schools and pupils becoming focused on exam results to the exclusion of all else.

§ Baroness Blackstone
The Government's proposals for raising standards in schools—both in academic achievement and more generally—will be set out in our forthcoming White Paper.

Lord Lucas
asked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to their modified target that "by 2006 practically every 11 year-old should reach this level (i.e. "the appropriate reading standard for their age")", whether they intend that the words "practically every 11 year-old" should be read as excluding or including children assessed as having special educational needs.

§ Baroness Blackstone
The Government believe that very many children assessed as having special educational needs are capable of reaching the appropriate reading standard for their age. They have therefore set inclusive targets, both for 2002 and 2006.