HC Deb 03 November 1987 vol 121 cc634-5W
Mr. Alan Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how soon the implementation of the core curriculum will apply in the private educational sector.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Government do not believe that it would be right to impose the national curriculum on independent schools, which are outside the national system of maintained education, but they believe that many will wish to adopt it; my right hon. Friend will urge them to do so. He will also take his national curriculum policies into account in considering new applications for registration, and Her Majesty's Inspector's reports on existing independent schools.

City technology colleges will be independent schools, but my right hon. Friend intends to make it a condition of grant that they keep to the substance of the national curriculum, within their own distinctive ethos.