§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received with regard to the position of academically gifted children in the state maintained sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldA number of responses to the Government's consultations on their proposals for educational reform have included comments about the position of academically gifted children. My right hon.
273WFriend has made it clear in the remit letter to science and maths working groups, as he will for the other working groups as they are set up, that he wants attainment targets and programmes of study for foundation subjects in the national curriculum to be framed so as to challenge all gifted children to develop their talents to the utmost.