§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures he proposes to improve work in the foundation subjects of the national curriculum;
(2) if he will make a statement on standards in the national curriculum in foundation subjects.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsIn its review of educational provision in Wales for 1991–92, HMI (Wales) reported that teachers have responded to the challenge of the national curriculum with resilience, personal effort and commitment. HMI found that in 1991–92—a year in which two of the foundation subjects were introduced for the first time—work in the core subjects was satisfactory or better in three quarters of classes and there was satisfactory work in the foundation subjects in two thirds of classes. I congratulate teachers on this substantial achievement. I am also naturally concerned by those classes where performance needs to improve. As teachers become more familiar with the requirements of the orders and planning appropriate schemes of work, I have every confidence that standards will improve further.