HC Deb 28 June 1988 vol 136 cc166-7W
Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis pupils will be selected to attend city technology colleges.

Mrs. Rumbold

CTCs will cater for students of widely differing abilities. Selection will be based on aptitude, commitment and the ability to benefit from what the college has to offer.

Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what powers the governors of city technology colleges will have in the development of the curriculum within their schools.

Mrs. Rumbold

The overall shape and balance of the curriculum will be determined by the governors after consultation with the principal, but they will be required as a condition of grant to implement the substance of the national curriculum.

Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether parents will be represented on the governing bodies of city technology colleges; and how far industry will be represented when colleges are funded by private capital.

Mrs. Rumbold

The scheme of government for each city technology college, which will need to be approved by my right hon. Friend, will provide for representatives of the sponsors, of parents and of individuals from the local community who are committed to the good government of the college, to serve on the governing body. The latter may also include members of the local business and industrial community.

Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it will be possible for pupils at city technology colleges to study arts and humanities at A-level.

Mrs. Rumbold

The shape and balance of the city technology college curriculum post-16 will be determined by the college governors in consultation with the principal. It is anticipated that arts and humanities subjects will be available in the post-16 curriculum, although the emphasis overall, and for individual students, will inevitably remain on science and technology.

Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision will be made for pupils with special needs who attend city technology colleges.

Mrs. Rumbold

City technology colleges will admit students of differing abilities, including some with special educational needs. We expect that CTCs will develop appropriate provision to meet these needs. The building and refurbishment of the premises of the first two CTCs, at Kingshurst and Nottingham, will include adaptations to meet the particular requirements of physically handicapped students.