§ 27. Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made regarding the discussions about a nationally agreed basis for the content of a core curriculum.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee) on 25 March.—[Vol. 1, c. 361.] Following publication of "The School Curriculum" my240W Department is engaged in consultations on a circular which will bring it to the attention of local education authorities and school governors.
§ 36. Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to specify the minimum amount of time to be devoted in the school timetable to such basic subjects as mathematics and English in his proposal for a core curriculum.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleThe statement of guidance, "The School Curriculum", published on 25 March, does not recommend minimum time allocations for particular subjects. I accepted the argument, expressed during our consultations, that minima might come to be regarded as norms, or might in other ways be interpreted too rigidly. It is open to local education authorities to offer guidance on time allocations to their schools, it they think it useful.