§ Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken to ensure that sufficient preparations have been made for the new GCSE examinations with regard to teachers' courses; how many mode 1 syllabuses have been approved; and how he proposes to make them available by the autumn term.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Secondary Examinations Council, the GCSE examining groups and the local education authorities have all combined to provide a programme of preparation for the new examination courses which is unprecedented both in its scale and in its scope. The Department is making a substantial financial contribution. Mode 1 syllabuses in those subjects for which there are subject national criteria fall to be approved by the examining groups and the Secondary Examinations Council. Mode 1 syllabuses in other subjects fall to be approved by the examining groups in the first instance. The Secondary Examinations Council announced on 18 February that 76 syllabuses had been approved. All syllabuses must be approved by May 1986 at the latest. Both the examining groups and the Secondary Examinations Council are on course for that target. The distribution of approved syllabuses to schools is a matter for the examining groups.