§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that design and technology are established as statutory entitlements for all pupils at stage 4 in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodI have accepted the recommendations of the Curriculum Council for Wales on the review of the national curriculum, including the proposal that technology should become optional for 14 to 16-year-old pupils —key stage 4—and that they should be encouraged to take forward their education in technology at this key stage through a variety of routes. The right course for Wales is to concentrate on the basics of language, mathematics and science and to leave further subjects to choice according to pupils' need to pursue GCSE or vocational qualifications, such as a full general national vocational qualification, if they so wish. I am encouraging schools not only to maintain the progress that they have made with technology at key stage 4 but also to provide appropriate courses in this subject.