§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he proposes to introduce, following his statement at the meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Education Ministers, to promote equality of opportunity in areas within his Departmental responsibility.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe Government's aim is to raise the standards achieved by all pupils, bearing in mind the evidence (including that in reports by Her Majesty's Inspectorate) of existing disparities between the performance of pupils in schools in very similar circumstances. I believe that significant progress will be made through our plans to improve the training of teachers; to seek broad national agreement on the objectives of the curriculum; to introduce changes in the examination system which will reinforce effective teaching in our schools; and to bring in via pilot schemes records of achievement for all school leavers.