HL Deb 14 July 1986 vol 478 cc767-8WA
Lord Orr-Ewing

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When local education authorities and teachers started pressing for the introduction of the GCSE exam and how much money has been allocated since then to the introduction of GCSE courses and examinations.

The Earl of Swinton

Proposals to remedy deficiencies in the existing dual examination system at 16-plus and initiate work on a single system were made some 10 years ago. They were supported by the local authority associations and all the major teachers' associations who, by 1980, were pressing for such a reform.

Since the decision in June 1984 to introduce the GCSE the Government have devoted some £10 million to a training programme for teachers. Together, local education authorities and the Government are directing some £80 million between 1986 and 1989 for books and equipment for the new examinations.