§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what advice he is giving to local education authorities about the teaching of home economics in secondary schools;
(2) what representations he has received about the absence of home economics from the national curriculum foundation subjects in secondary schools.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations from organisations, parents and teachers about the place of home economics in the school curriculum. Home economics is a valuable subject and is expected to remain a popular choice, outside the national curriculum, for many pupils. Within the national curriculum, home economics can contribute to teaching the attainment targets and programmes of study for science, to be finalised next month. Home economics can also contribute to design and technology (D & T). The 513W D & T working group has been asked to take this into account in advising on attainment targets and programmes of study for D & T.