§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future organisation of the School Examinations and Assessment Council.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe School Examinations and Assessment Council is moving into a new phase of its work. Solid foundations have been laid for the introduction of a national system of assessment and testing, and for the continuing development of a rigorous and effective school examination system.
The challenge now is to build on this progress. To do so the Secretary of State for Wales and I see advantage—as in the case of the National Curriculum Council—in separating the roles of the chairman and chief executive of the School Examinations and Assessment Council. Mr. Philip Halsey who has combined those roles to date, has himself seen this as a time for change, and he will retire from the School Examinations and Assessment Council with effect from 15 August. From that date, the Secretary of State for Wales and I are appointing Lord Griffiths as part-time chairman of the School Examinations and Assessment Council. The appointment will be for two years in the first instance.
It will be for the council to appoint a full-time chief executive, with our approval, under the provisions of schedule 2 of the Education Reform Act 1988.