§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what means are used to ensure that examination results at A and O-level in England and Wales are comparable between examining boards;
(2) what research his Department has undertaken into the disparity between the examination results at A and O-level of entrants of the different examining boards in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnThe GCE boards bear the main responsibility for ensuring comparability of the standards required for the award of particular grades at O and A-level. They are concerned to maintain the standards of their examinations and have undertaken considerable research.
The Department of Education and Science has undertaken no research in this area. However, the Secondary Examination Council (SEC) has been specifically charged with responsibility for monitoring the comparability of examination standards, and currently 745W scrutinises A-levels for fairness and reliability. The SEC will undertake similar work in respect of GCSE examinations which will supersede O-levels and CS in 1988.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of entrants for A-level examinations of each of the examining boards in England and Wales in each year since 1983 have received (a) A grades, (b) B grades, (c) C grades, (d) D grades and (e) E grades.
§ Mr. DunnI shall reply as soon as possible with data for the English boards. Figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Total Expenditure on Schools Teachers' Pay All Other Costs Year £ million Cash £ million Real Terms £ million Cash £ million Real Terms £ million Cash £ million Real Terms 1978–79 4,836 4,836 2,709 2,709 2,127 2,127 1979–80 5,496 4,703 3,066 2,624 2,430 2,079 1980–81 6,661 4,805 3,880 2,799 2,781 2,006 1981–82 7,203 4,729 4,302 2,824 2,901 1,905 1982–83 7,649 4,683 4,550 2,786 3,099 1,897 1983–84 8,013 4,695 4,751 2,784 3,262 1,911 1984–85 8,285 4,656 4,946 2,780 3,339 1,876 Notes:
1. The cash terms for all the later years have been repriced to 1978–79 prices using the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices) Deflator.
2. Teachers' Pay includes allowances plus the employers' contribution towards national insurance and superanuation.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing outturn capital expenditure on schools in each year since 1978–79 (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of total departmental outturn expenditure on schools and (c) in 1978–79 prices.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe information requested is set out in the table. The figures for capital expenditure are for
Gross Outturn Capital Expenditure1 on Maintained Schools in England 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 (a) in cash terms (£ million) 304 347 410 336 346 364 393 409 (b) as a percentage of total departmental out turn expenditure2 on schools. 6.9 6.9 6.6 4.5 4.4 4.4 4.6 4.6 (c) in 1978–79 prices3 (£ million) 304 297 296 221 212 213 221 217 1 The grant-aided work at voluntary schools includes expenditure on repairs and maintenance. 2 gross of receipts. 3 using the GDP (market prices) deflator.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what were the totals of capital expenditure forecasts supplied to his Department by local authorities in respect of 1986–87 preparatory to his determination of capital allocations for that year for (a) basic need school places, (b) new schemes relating to substandard school places, (c) expenditure committed on schemes arising before 1986–87 and (d) all other school schemes; and if he will make a statement;