§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is his policy that all schoolchildren sitting the new GCSE exam will receive a certificate irrespective of performance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe GCSE will be open, in principle, to any pupil or student but not all pupils will be successful. Grades will be awarded, and recorded on certificates, only if the candidate's performance meets the standard required for the grade. Candidates who fail to reach the minimum standard required for grade G will be ungraded. The standards required of successful candidates will be no less exacting, grade for grade, than those required in existing 0-level and CSE examinations.