§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the policy of attracting private industry into state schools; and if she will be considering a new approach to providing vocational education in schools.
§ Mr. ForthThe Government's education policy has consistently encouraged greater interaction between business and schools. The latest data show that 90 per cent. of maintained secondary schools and over half our primary schools now have links of some kind with business, and the range and nature of the interaction is growing broader. General national vocational qualifications are already providing a new approach to vocational education in schools. More than 1,500 schools are now approved GNVQ centres. In October, a GNVQ scholarship scheme was launched with sponsorship from 12 major companies.