HC Deb 08 November 1988 vol 140 cc119-22W
23. Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the recently published results for the new GCSE examination.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about GCSE examination results. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh).

26. Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his Department's assessment of the first year results of the GCSE examination.

35. Mr. Ian Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on the progress of the introduction of the GCSE examinations.

68. Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the way in which the GCSE exams have proceeded.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh).

46. Mr. Speller

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to assess the performance of students within Devon education authority at general certificate of secondary education level; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

It is for the Devon education authority and individual schools to assess the implications of the GCSE achievements of their pupils for school and local authority policies and practices. I hope that they will have particular regard to the recently published national report on the introduction of the GCSE from Her Majesty's inspectorate, as well as their own monitoring, and consider ways in which they can contribute to improving the GCSE.

50. Mr. Ken Hargreaves

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has received from teachers' organisations concerning the GCSE examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

Ministers and officials have had discussions with teacher organisations on the introduction of the GCSE on a number of occasions. I welcome their continuing contribution to improving the GCSE.

61. Mr. Martlew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to discuss with local education authorities the provision of resources for the GCSE examination; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has discussed the resource implications of the introduction of the GCSE with representatives of the local authorities on a number of occasions. The Government's expenditure plans for 1987–88 and 1988–89 allowed in full for what the local authorities themselves said would be needed. The expenditure plans for 1989–90 announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement take account of the continuing needs of schools now that the GCSE has been successfully introduced.

77. Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to make any alterations in 1989 in the arrangements for the publication of GCSE results.

Mrs. Rumbold

The issuing of GCSE results is the responsibility of the independent GCSE examining groups. My right hon. Friend has made clear to them that late results cannot be tolerated. The groups have undertaken to improve their administrative arrangements for next year.