§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons the study of engineering is not included in the national curriculum. [7056]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe National Curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils aged 5–16 at maintained schools benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum. It was not designed to train pupils for specialised careers such as engineering. There is, however, scope within the programmes of study for a number of National Curriculum subjects, including design and technology, maths, science and art, for schools to ensure that pupils have the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and understanding which they will need to study engineering.