That is the question that Alistair Lexden and cross-party colleagues in the Lords will be considering between now and November as members of a special education inquiry committee established this month.
After taking evidence and consulting widely, they will produce a report in November recommending reforms designed to help equip 11 to 16 year-olds more effectively for the digital and green economy.
The members of this Lords Select Committee include the former Conservative Education Secretary, Lord (Kenneth) Baker; the former Labour Schools Minister, Lord (Jim) Knight; and the Lib Dem Education Spokesman, Lord (Mike) Storey, a former teacher with long experience. The Committee’s Chairman is Lord (Jo) Johnson, a former Conservative Universities Minister.
Alistair Lexden said: “I am absolutely confident that we will all work well together on the cross-party basis which is one of the strengths of the Lords. We shall be meeting week by week to hear from teachers, pupils, businessmen and many others about the ways they think the curriculum can be made more relevant to the needs of the 21st century.
“There is much concern about the narrowing of the GCSE curriculum. Many are worried about the decline in the study of creative and technical subjects that has occurred in the last ten years: GCSE entries are down 40 per cent in creative subjects, and by 70 per cent in design and technology—at a time when we badly need more qualified young people in these areas. Skills gaps are widely reported by employers.
“As the current President of the Independent Schools Association, I shall want to bring the views and experiences of its 600 members—varying widely in character while producing excellent results---to bear on this important inquiry. As always, the independent sector will be keen to play its part in helping the education system as a whole make progress in the interests of all young people.”
