HL Deb 30 April 2002 vol 634 cc94-5WA
Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What impact they envisage government proposals for secondary schools will have on performance tables for pupils aged 16 if:

  1. (a) many pupils take GCSEs early;
  2. (b) many pupils, under Chapters 1 and 2 of the Education Bill, are exempt from taking a variety of curriculum subjects; and
  3. (c) many pupils, from the age of 14, are educated in innovative ways at a variety of settings, for example, places of work, further education colleges, schools, and tertiary colleges. [HL3788]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

The performance tables for secondary schools already provide for pupils who take their GCSEs early.

The Green Paper, 14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards, contains a number of proposals, including proposals for increased collaboration between educational institutions and for greater flexibility, which may impact on the way performance tables for secondary schools are compiled in future. The Green Paper recognises this and invites views on how these issues might be addressed. Once we have taken views, we shall consider in detail what changes, if any, might be required. We shall consult on specific proposals for changes as part of our annual cycle of consultation on performance tables.