§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to ensure that Curriculum 2000 qualifications are of equal rigour and reflect equal attainment to their predecessors. [102921]
§ Mr. WicksAll the AS/A level and GNVQ specifications to be introduced for teaching from September 2000 will have to meet the demanding criteria set out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. These are designed to ensure that the rigour of the qualifications is at least fully maintained. In approving these criteria, Ministers took steps to strengthen the rigour of the new A levels by requiring all candidates to take a demanding synoptic test at the end of the course covering the who syllabus, and by allowing only one opportunity to re-take individual modules. Ministers have also taken steps to upgrade the GNVQ assessment regime.