§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has revised the format of Her Majesty's inspectorate's annual report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldPrevious annual reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate have been based on evidence gained during the course of just one term. The new style report will offer a view of the nature, quality and effectiveness of education in schools and colleges in the light of all the inspection work carried out by HMI over a whole academic year. It will present an overview on the standards of education in general, on progress made since the previous year's report, on trends and regional differences and on issues that HMI judges need to be addressed by those responsible for the education service. It is hoped that these changes will lead to a better and more useful report.