PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CONDUCT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION (10 May 1993)

That this House regrets the failure of the Secretary of State for Education, in his statement to the House on 11th May, to deal with the lack of confidence in this year's school tests; believes this failure reinforces the need for the withdrawal of compulsion in this year's testing regime; calls on the Government, in the light of the welcome changes announced for next year predicated upon the flawed tests for this year, to let teachers decide on whether this year's tests should be taken; urges that from September the model adopted in Scotland for assessment and testing should be used, along with the measures announced on 11th May, pending a general agreement being reached by parents and teachers involved in the education of children on the implementation of national curriculum assessment and testing; and further urges the Secretary of State for Education to resign so that confidence can be restored among parents, pupils and teachers in the Government's willingness to listen to their immediate concerns about the educational damage, chaos, confusion and overwork involved in the present testing regime.

Sponsored by:
Mr Win Griffiths (Labour)