§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessments he has made in each of the years since 1980 of reading standards in Wales; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what policies he has followed to increase the standard of reading in local education authority schools in Wales;
(3) what action he has taken in each of the local education authorities in Wales to encourage improved standards in reading; if he will list the measurements and assessments he has made of reading standards in Wales in each of the years since 1980; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what initiatives he will take to improve reading standards in Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to him on 10 July 1990.
An assessment of reading standards is carried out as part of all Her Majesty's inspectors inspections of primary schools and, since 1983, I have arranged for all reports to be published. In addition to these reports, which recently have numbered around 40 per year, the assessment and performance unit (APU) published the results of their survey into language performance of pupils in 1981 and 1982. These assessments have been further supplemented throughout the period by Her Majesty's inspectorate (England and Wales) discussion and advisory papers in the "Curriculum Matters" series and "Aspects of Primary Education". Her Majesty's inspectorate Wales also published its own report "Aspects of Reading in English in the Junior Schools" in February 1989.
The teaching of English as a core foundation subject within the national curriculum was introduced into primary schools (pupils aged 5 to 7) from September 1989. Development of pupils' reading skills forms an essential element of the national curriculum programmes of study for English and sets out clear standards for achievement. As from this summer term, the individual achievement of all seven-year-old pupils will, for the first time, be assessed by law.
Since April 1989 the Welsh Office has grant funded the appointment of additional specialist English advisers with the WJEC and in each of the local education authorities to support classroom teachers to introduce the national curriculum requirements for English and also from September 1989, Welsh.
A summary of the latest Her Majesty's inspectorate Wales findings on reading standards is being made available to all directors of education and chairpersons of education committees in Wales. I have asked that high priority be given to the follow-up of all reports of schools with less than satisfactory performance as noted in Her Majesty's inspectorate inspections, the local education authorities own monitoring procedures or the national 568W curriculum assessment arrangements. I have asked Her Majesty's inspectorate to continue to report to me regularly on reading standards.
Her Majesty's inspectorate is organising a conference in July which will be attended by headteachers of primary schools, senior staff, advisers, advisory teachers and teacher trainers. Reading will be featured as part of the conference.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the standard of reading at the age of seven years.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe latest available evidence, based on a comprehensive programme of Her Majesty's inspectorate school inspections over the past 18 months, shows that the teaching of reading in about 83 per cent. of primary schools in Wales is good or satisfactory. I am still very concerned about the 17 per cent. that are not satisfactory. I am therefore, asking local education authorities to give high priority to following up reports on schools with less than satisfactory performance, and I will be receiving regular reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate on reading standards.