§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the approximate number of candidates expected to take the new Certificates of Extended Education (CEE) in the summer; what publications outline the scope and purpose of this new examination and on what basis of consultation it was introduced.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe Schools Council's proposals for a Certificate of Extended Education (CEE) were put forward to the then Secretary of State for Education and Science in May 1976. The council had consulted its member bodies in formulating these proposals and had invited comments from a wider range of educational interests; a series of consultative meetings had also been held with further education interests, the CBI and TUC. A copy of a report on CEE from the council's Joint Examinations Sub-Committee is available in the Library.
Experimental CEE pilot schemes have been operating in a number of schools in England and Wales since 1973. Information is not available on the number of pupils taking the pilot schemes this year; about 25,000 did so in 1977.
A decision on whether to introduce this new examination will not be made until a review has been undertaken of these pilot schemes and other courses and examinations for those for whom the CEE is intended. The membership and terms of reference of a group to carry out this review were announced by my right hon. Friend in reply to a 200W Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 11th April.—[Vol. 947, c. 397.]