§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many students in Northern Ireland completed the religious studies examinations at both GCSE and A-level set by the Council for Curriculum, Examination and Assessment for the years 1988 to 1998. [HL2492]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Dubs)The available information is as follows (figures supplied by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA)):
Year CCSE GCE A-level GCE AS-level 1988 10,444 675 — 1989 11,330 768 — 1990 10,666 811 84 1991 6,928 938 148 1992 7,153 1,006 147 1993 7,393 1,234 145 1994 7,727 1,247 107 1995 7,293 1,216 86 1996 7,096 1,318 90 1997 6,447 1,419 106 1998 6,524 1,453 103
§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultations have taken place between the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland and the four main Churches in the Province over the past three years with particular regard to the review of the A-level syllabus and the provision of the A and AS syllabuses, in view of the responsibilities these Churches have for the core programme in religious education in the years prior to these examinations. [HL2493]
§ Lord DubsThe Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) has informed me that a major consultation on proposals for a new advanced level syllabus took place in 1996, the results of which were reported to CCEA's then Religious Education Committee. Membership of that group was based on nominations from a wide range of bodies reflecting the various religious traditions in Northern Ireland.
CCEA has also indicated that the last formal contact with representatives of the four main Churches was in April 1997 when among other matters an opportunity was taken to discuss the developments taking place in the A-level arena.
§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether those persons employed by the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland to examine and mark GCSE and A-level papers in religious studies have taught the paper and the syllabus concerned. [HL2494]
93WA
§ Lord DubsThe appointment of examiners is a matter for the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum. Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) as an examining body. CCEA adhere to the GCSE and GCE Code of Practice which is common to all examining bodies and which sets out the relevant requirements for examiners. Examiners are required to have relevant subject experience and so all examiners of the GCSE and A-level papers in religious studies are therefore teachers of the subject. In addition, under the code it is desirable that an examiner should be a teacher of the syllabus: CCEA's examiners have not taught all of the options of the A-level syllabus but can augment their expertise by additional recruitment as they consider necessary.
§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider professional expertise in religious studies from the tertiary sector is adequately represented on the various committees or working groups of the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment currently engaged for (a) GCSE; (b) A-level; and (c) AS-level examinations in Northern Ireland. [HL2495]
§ Lord DubsThe Department of Education has consulted the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and as a result I am content that every effort is made by the council to ensure broad and balanced representation on its examining teams from the various sectors of education. In establishing its examining team the council must balance the need for representation from the tertiary sector with representation from those who have experience teaching the syllabus and preparing candidates for the examination. For example, the council's Religious Education Committee included three members from the tertiary sector. The Chief Examiner for GCSE teaches religious studies at tertiary level, as does the reviser for the A and AS-level examination.
§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many students from Northern Ireland are currently completing examinations in religious studies with examining boards in England, Scotland and Wales. [HL2496]
§ Lord DubsInformation on the number of students from Northern Ireland who are currently completing examinations in religious studies will not be available until this year's examinations have been completed. The numbers of Northern Ireland school pupils who completed examinations in religious studies with examining hoards in England, Scotland and Wales in 1997–98 was:
England: 7,682 Scotland: 0 Wales: 1,266 Total: 8,948