§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue a consultative document on how the Government's decision on the examination at age 16 years and over is to be implemented.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Government consulted the interested bodies before announcing their proposals for the reform of 16-plus examinations. Detailed decisions on the way in which the proposals will be implemented will follow discussions with the examining boards, the local authority associations and the Schools Council. These bodies have already been informed of the next steps.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what powers he will take to ensure that the GCE and CSE boards will work together in panels to establish a common grading system for the new 16-plus examinations.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. and learned Friend is confident that the GCE and CSE boards will work together on a basis of voluntary co-operation and that new powers will not be needed.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will include in the national criteria or regulations for examinations at 16-plus provision that decisions on which alternative papers pupils will take could be deferred until the beginning of the fifth year in secondary schools; and if he will ensure that the grading system will allow late developers to obtain high grades.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Government have proposed that the national criteria for syllabuses and assessment procedures should be drafted by the GCE and CSE boards jointly and submitted for the approval of the Secretaries of State. It is unlikely that the criteria will determine the point at which pupils will have to decide between alternative papers. I would not normally expect this point to come before the beginning of the fifth year. Most grades in the single scale should be available to candidates taking either alternative depending on quality of performance.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, 18W under the new system of examinations at 16-plus, it will be possible for schools with sufficiently qualified stall to set examinations, subject to external moderation on a mode 3 basis.
§ Dr. BoysonNo mode of examining will be excluded from the new system provided syllabuses and assessment procedures comply with the agreed national criteria.