Exam Reform

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Monday 17th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s question, but he seems to be inviting me to move towards a two-tier system because he believes that one size would not fit all. I reject the view implicit in his argument that the overwhelming majority of our students are not capable of doing what they do in other jurisdictions in showing at the age of 16 that they have mastered the core academic subjects and are ready for further study and the world of work.

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

May I press the Secretary of State on how the enhanced provision for the least academically gifted will be delivered in rural areas? He is aware that North Yorkshire is one of the most underfunded of local education authorities. What particular provision will be made to the schools in question?

[Michael Gove]

I am aware that North Yorkshire has particular challenges, not only as a result of funding but because of the dispersed nature of the population. I hope that North Yorkshire, like other areas of the country, has benefited from the additional funding for the poorest students through the pupil premium. Although there is not an absolute correlation between poverty and low achievement, it has certainly been an entrenched feature of our system in the past. I hope that the additional resources and the other changes that may well be brought in will ensure that those students continue to do better under this coalition Government.