Schools (Hansard, 5 December 1988)

§ Mr. Norman Hogg
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish schools he expects will opt out of local authority control.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The legislation we are to introduce will enable parents generally to opt for self-governing status for their schools. Recent polls suggest that a significant number will welcome the opportunity offered by this measure.

§ Mr. Norman Hogg
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from parents, teachers or educational organisations concerning the likely effects of primary school testing upon remedial pupils; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
A number of respondents to the consultation paper "Curriculum and Assessment in Scotland: a Policy for the 90s" referred to the position of pupils with special educational needs. As the consultation paper makes clear it will be for education authorities, in consultation with parents, to decide whether pupils recorded as having special educational needs would benefit from participation in the tests.

§ Mr. Norman Hogg
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing the numbers of primary schools in Scotland currently undertaking their own schemes of assessment for English and mathematics.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Assessment is an integral part of teaching and my right hon. and learned Friend would expect some form of assessment in these subjects to be carried out in every primary school. Current policy is designed to improve the quality of consistency of that assessment.

§ Mr. Norman Hogg
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the curricula guidelines which he intends to introduce for Scottish primary schools in those subjects apart from English and mathematics.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
My right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum to review existing guidance in each subject area and, where appropriate, to develop revised guidelines. their reports are expected to be completed by the end of 1990.