§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he has taken to 105W monitor standards in A-level subjects in (a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) chemistry and (d) other science subjects since May 1997. [81853]
§ Mr. MudieThe Government are committed to ensuring that standards in all public examinations are rigorously maintained. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority carries out a rolling programme of reviews to ensure that examination demand and grade standards are maintained in all major subjects. The first such review, published in 1996, confirmed that standards in A-level mathematics and chemistry remained broadly comparable between 1975 and 1995. The second review, published in March this year, confirmed that standards in A-level physics remained broadly comparable between 1976 and 1996. The A-level biology review is due to be published next year. Specific recommendations from the reviews for ensuring that standards continue to be maintained—and where necessary are strengthened—are being incorporated in the revised A-level criteria, which will underpin the new syllabuses to be introduced from September 2000.