HC Deb 13 February 1989 vol 147 c2W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the standing arrangements for the distribution of documents relating to the national curriculum to(a) schools, (b) parents and (c) others; and whether he has any plans to change those arrangements.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Arrangements for the distribution of particular documents are made in the light of their nature and status. Circulars, statutory orders and regulations which concern the curriculum responsibilities of head teachers and school governing bodies are sent direct to all schools. Under regulations to be made under section 22 of the Education Reform Act, parents will have access at the school to all such documents. Copies are sent to LEAs and representative bodies, which are also consulted on draft documents; such drafts are available to others on request.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in theOfficial Report the titles of documents relating to the national curriculum which have been made available to schools; and in respect of each document (a) how many have been sent to each school and over what period following publication, (b) whether any charge has been made, and (c) whether any delays in dispatch have occurred.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

My Department has sent out two final circulars relevant to chapter 1 of the ERA—circular 1/89 on local arrangements for the consideration of complaints, and circular 3/89 on religious education and collective worship. Both were sent free of charge to all maintained schools—two copies to every head teacher and one for each governing body. The full circulation took just over two weeks in each case, because of heavy pressure on the dispatch services. The National Curriculum Council is responsible for the distribution of proposals for statutory attainment targets and programmes of study. It has sent copies of such proposals covering mathematics, science and primary English to all maintained schools.

A number of draft documents and consultation papers relevant to chapter 1 of the ERA have been sent to LEAs and representative organisations, but made available free of charge to schools and others on request. There have been no delays in dispatching these documents, but postal delays may have affected delivery of some.