§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take in respect of proposals for a single system of examining at 16 years-plus to replace the present 3W GCE O-level and CSE examinations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleI recognise that the present dual system of examining at 16-plus is unsatisfactory in a number of respects, for reasons such as those set out in chapter I of the report of Sir James Waddell's steering committee (Cmnd 7281). The Government believe it to be right to seek to remedy these deficiencies, provided this can be done without putting educational standards, particularly those represented by GCE O-levels, and public confidence in those standards, at risk. I am not satisfied that the previous Government's proposals, set out in the White Paper "Secondary Schools Examinations: A Single System at 16 Plus" (Cmnd. 7368) would necessarily accomplish this. Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales I shall therefore initiate further consultations with the major interested parties before the Government reach decisions on this matter.