§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which handbooks relating to the 607W national curriculum are currently out of print; when they will be available; for what reasons any delays in supply have occurred; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department issued on 23 February two documents offering general guidance on the national curriculum, circular 5/89 on "The School Curriculum and Assessment" and a handbook for teachers entitled "From Policy to Practice". Nearly half a million copies of the handbook were sent direct to teachers in maintained schools, trainee teachers and local education authorities in the week after publication. The circular and handbook have remained in print and copies are available on request. The first orders and associated documents relating to national curriculum subjects, on mathematics and science attainment targets and programmes of study, were issued with an explanatory circular (6/89) on 14 March. Initial copies have already been sent to all maintained schools, and further copies are being sent to LEAs