HC Deb 31 March 1938 vol 333 cc2172-4
51 Mr. Rostron Duckworth

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1) why teachers of physical training who have undergone a three years' course are not, in view of the responsible and arduous nature of their work, placed on the graduate scale or paid a salary equal to that of a graduate;

(2) whether he is ware that students who gain the London University diploma at the Slade School are given graduate status and paid accordingly; and for what reason teachers of physical training, who have undergone a course for at least three years at one of the physical training colleges, cannot be granted similar status and pay;

(3) whether he is aware that under Section 7 (e) of the Second Report of the Standing Joint Committee on salary scales for teachers in secondary schools it is provided that non-graduate teachers may be placed on the graduate scale if, inter alia, they have undergone a three-years' full-time approved course and passed a suitable examination thereafter; how many courses have yet been recognised under this Section; and whether, in view of the increased importance of physical training, arrangements can now be made to recognise the three-year courses of the physical education colleges for this purpose?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to women teachers of physical training employed full-time in secondary schools. The salary scales of these teachers, as of all full-time teachers in secondary schools, are regulated by the Burnham Secondary Report and any question of modifying the report is a matter in the first instance for the appropriate Burnham Committee. The London University Diploma in Fine Art gained by students at the Slade School, does not qualify a teacher to be placed on the graduate scale unless supplemented by the Board's Art Teacher's Diploma, the award of which necessitates, inter alia, a further year of professional training, or in certain cases at least seven years' teaching experience as a full-time specialist teacher of art, and the passing of an examination in the principles of teaching and school management. No courses have yet been approved under Section 7 (e) of the Burnham Secondary Report. The consideration of the three-year courses of the physical training colleges for this purpose would be a matter for the Burnham Committee.