13 December 2002
Clarke told the Commons' education select committee that the department was discussing plans to reduce the inspection regime for some schools as an accompaniment to his extension of the specialist schools programme announced last week.
Making his first appearance before the committee since his October appointment, Clarke said he wanted to 'develop a system where good schools have a lesser regime of inspections than is currently the case'.
He also promised that the Department for Education and Skills would continue to reduce the number of targets for schools and produce clearly defined benchmarks for the sector.
Asked if his plans meant an end to the Key Stage tests for schools that receive positive assessments from Ofsted, the sector's watchdog, Clarke said: 'I certainly don't want to move down that path. I can envisage changes, but not a situation where we don't have a test regime.'
He also denied that a widespread extension of the specialist schools programme meant the 'death' of the comprehensive school.
The DfES announced last week that all secondary schools now have the opportunity to become specialist – those that focus on key subjects, such as technology or sports, as well as the national curriculum.
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