§ Mr. Gwilym JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce his conclusions on the application of the national curriculum in Wales for key stage 4.
§ Mr. David HuntI have considered the need for flexibility and pupil choice in key stage 4 of the national curriculum in Wales, and have sought the views of the Curriculum Council for Wales, local education authorities and other interested parties. After consideration of their responses, and subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures, I intend that key stage 4 of the national curriculum in Wales should comprise the following elements
All pupils should study English, mathematics, science and, where Welsh is a core subject in Welsh-speaking schools, Welsh to GCSE level. All pupils should study technology and a modern foreign language in key stage 4 but not necessarily to GCSE level; where Welsh is a non-core foundation subject this will also be the requirement, except for those pupils attending schools which are exempted from the compulsory teaching of Welsh at key stage 4. Pupils should be required to study a full course to GCSE in either history or geography or shorter courses in both these subjects, possibly taken in combination. All pupils in Wales should undertake physical education as a compulsory subject during key stage 4.In reaching my conclusions I have not overlooked the importance of art, music and other creative subjects. Although I do not propose that art and music should be compulsory at key stage 4, I would encourage schools to develop in their pupils a lasting interest in creative activity throughout their compulsory schooling both within the formal curriculum and through extra-curricular activity. Thus I would expect all schools to offer art and music, and the other foundation subjects, to GCSE level to allow pupils to continue their studies if they so choose.