§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the introduction of key skills to the GCE A-Level syllabus from autumn 2000, with particular reference to difficulties encountered in individual subject areas. [110281]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 17 February 2000]: The new key skills qualification is designed to be taken alongside A-levels and other post-16 qualifications. It is not mandatory. To assist teachers, opportunities to develop key skills have been signposted in each of the new A-level specifications. In addition, specifications for the new qualification have been available from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority since January 1999. Examples of test questions will be available shortly. A Government funded programme is providing teachers with a wide range of training and materials, including packs on how to teach key skills alongside particular A-levels.