§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to make funding available for the introduction of GCSE into post-school education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is for local authorities to determine the resources made available for GCSE provision, whether in schools or in further education. The Government's plans for 1987–88 provide for an increase of 18-8 per cent. in total local authority expenditure compared with the current year; of this some £100 million is intended for GCSE non-teaching costs.
In addition, the Government have directed substantial resources specifically to help meet GCSE-related costs, including £25 million for in-service training for teachers in schools and further education in the financial years 1985–86 to 1987–88; and support for local authority expenditure on books and equipment in schools through education support grants and the Manpower Services Commission in the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88.
The available resources should enable authorities to ensure that maintained institutions offering GCSE courses can meet the demands of the new examination courses.