§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the recommendations concerning better contact between schools, examining bodies, the inspectorate and professional mathematicians contained in the 1995 report, "Tackling the Mathematics Problem". [48836]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 9 July 1998]: The report to which the hon. Member refers concerns England and Wales only. It was not submitted to the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department for a formal response.
In Scotland there are already good relations encompassing higher education involvement in educational decision making at school level.
My department is already taking action to respond to general concerns raised by this report where relevant in Scotland—for example the numerical and algebraic competence of university entrants. HM Inspectors of Schools published in 1997 the report "Improving Mathematics Education 5–14" which proposed earlier introduction of algebra in schools and advised that more attention should be paid to mental calculation and that non-calculator papers be introduced into national examinations—a proposal now out for consultation by the SQA. Scottish Certificate of Education examinations have, as a result, been putting more emphasis on algebraic manipulation so as to encourage schools to improve 296W pupils' skills. The development of new Higher Still courses has taken these points into account and numeracy is a core skill in all proposed Scottish Group Awards.