§ 36. Mr. HaselhurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about whether the national curriculum is designed with sufficient flexibility to ensure adequate preparation for pupils in the 14 to 16 years age range; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldA number of replies to our consultation document stressed the need for flexibility for this age390W group. The proposals in the Education Reform Bill will secure this flexibility in a number of ways: by enabling the national curriculum in those years to be offered in 70 per cent. of the time available, by providing for attainment targets and programmes of study or guidelines for foundation subjects which can be met in a variety of ways, and by giving the Secretary of State the power to make regulations modifying or disapplying elements of the national curriculum pupils for whom this is appropriate.