§ 33. Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new measures she is taking to monitor standards in the primary sector. [7085]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe Government's policies now enable the performance of children of primary age to be closely monitored at national, local, school and pupil level. The two main mechanisms are the assessment of performance of pupils against the national curriculum, and the regular independent inspection of all schools. We published last month the national results of the 1996 statutory assessments of all seven and 11-year-olds in English, mathematics and science, and in March we shall publish primary school performance tables. Some 7,000 primary schools have been independently inspected, with a summary of the report sent to each parent. These measures enable parents, schools and others to monitor children's progress at this vital stage in education.