HC Deb 03 August 1978 vol 955 cc484-5W
Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what guidance she has given to education authorities to expand technical and industrial education in schools in order to promote the Government's industrial strategy.

Miss Margaret Jackson

The Green Paper "Education in Schools" (Cmnd. 6869) issued in July 1977 drew attention to the importance of the educational contribution to the industrial strategy, and one of its central themes was the relevance of school education as a preparation for working life. My Department's circular 14/77 asked local education authorities to report on their curricular arrangements in this respect, amongst others, and a summary of replies will be published as a basis for further consultations within and beyond the education service. The Department has also recently issued a letter to chief education officers inviting authorities to review their arrangements for school-industry liaison as a whole.