§ 27. Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve secondary school education in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [17118]
§ Mr. WilsonEducation is at the heart of this Government and raising standards is the key priority. Under our initiative to raise standards in Scottish schools, each school will have clear, realistic and achievable targets for improvement. Implementation will be overseen by my Action Group on Standards in Scottish Schools, membership of which is widely drawn from within and beyond education.
In September, with the endorsement of the Action Group, we issued for consultation a strategy paper for the development of a framework of school targets in key areas with national introduction in the school year 1998–99. 155W The outcome of consultation will be discussed at the next meeting of the Action Group on 15 December.
In addition, full implementation of the 5–14 curriculum development programme, including national testing, in the first two years of secondary school will contribute to improvement. The programme should be in place by 1999.
Higher Still—a new system of qualifications and assessment—will also contribute to improvement. Higher Still will be introduced in Scottish secondary schools and in further education colleges in 1999. It will replace the existing system of Highers, National Certificates, GSVQs and Certificates of Sixth Year Studies with a single system covering vocational and general education and offering courses at five different levels. This will provide better continuity and progression for all students and will play an important role in raising standards. Group awards will be available to encourage coherent programmes of study and set benchmarks for overall attainment and competence in the core skills—information technology, numeracy, communication, problem solving skills and working with others.