§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the teacher unions and other organisations which are working towards the introduction of general certificate of secondary education courses in schools this autumn.
§ Mr. Chris PattenPreparations for the GCSE, including the national programme of teacher training, involve the collaboration of the Department, the Secondary Examinations Council, the GCSE examining groups, local education authorities, schools and teachers themselves. The teachers' associations are not directly involved. Two of the teachers' associations, the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers and the National Union of Teachers, have called on their members not to take part in the preparations for the GCSE. But I am pleased to note that the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association and Professional Association of Teachers have not made similar recommendations to their members. My right hon. Friend and I hope that all teachers, conscious of their responsibilities, will take advantage of the unprecedented programme of preparation to plan and work for the introduction of the new examination courses.