HL Deb 28 January 1998 vol 585 cc48-9WA
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many hours on average in each week are spent teaching reading, writing and arithmetic in Scottish primary schools. [HL94]

Lord Sewel

The national guidelines set out in the documentThe Structure and Balance in the Curriculum 5–14 recommend that Scottish primary schools spend 15 per cent. of curriculum time (3¾ hours per week) on each of language (reading and writing) and mathematics. This total of 30 per cent. on language and mathematics can be increased by an additional 20 per cent. of built in flexibility time (5 hours per week) wherever there is concern with standards of literacy or numeracy. This allows for a total of 50 per cent. (12½ hours) of curriculum time to be devoted to language and mathematics. It is a matter for education authorities and individual schools to decide how much time to spend on language and mathematics within these parameters.