National Curriculum Debate

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Department: Department for Education
Monday 8th July 2013

(11 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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My position on sex and relationship education is that I am in favour of it.

Philip Hollobone Portrait Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)
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What emphasis will there be on spelling in the national curriculum, and by what age will primary school children be required to learn their 12 times table?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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The 12 times table will be required by the end of year 4, which is a significant advance on where we are at the moment, and there are indicative tables as part of the national curriculum document that lay out how we can ensure that students can spell. I should also say that, on a recent primary school visit that I undertook, I asked the students whether they had enjoyed their national curriculum tests. The universal view was that the tests were fun, but the most fun were the spelling, punctuation and grammar tests that this Government have introduced.