HC Deb 24 April 1969 vol 782 c633
8. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of accepted candidates for three-year courses at colleges of education had two or more General Certificate of Education A-levels in 1968 and in each of the three preceding years.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The provisional figure for 1968 is 37.0 per cent. The corresponding percentages for 1965, 1966 and 1967 are 38.2, 37.1 and 36.8, respectively.

Mr. Hill

Is it not desirable if possible to improve that trend, bearing in mind that we want to see a higher proportion of newly-entered teachers completing courses and getting degrees as bachelors of education?

Mrs. Williams

This has been a very steady trend, and those who say that more means worse must face the fact that the proportion of "A" levels in all sections of higher education has been fully maintained, despite the growth in numbers.