Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she remains satisfied with the level of attainment in mathematics in schools in the United Kingdom.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend is always concerned to improve levels of attainment in mathematics as in other subjects. To this end, she has set up a committee of inquiry into the teaching of mathematics in primary and secondary schools, under the chairmanship of Dr. W. H. Cockcroft. The Department's assessment of performance unit has already begun to monitor national levels of performance in primary and secondary mathematics, and Her Majesty's inspectors' surveys of primary and secondary education in England, the first of which has already been published, 709W will provide further evidence of the present position. In addition, special retraining courses have been provided to increase the supply of qualified mathematic teachers. Questions relating to schools in other countries of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.