HC Deb 20 February 1964 vol 689 cc1380-1
17. Mr. J. Wells

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to establish a closer integration between teacher training and the practice of teaching.

Sir E. Boyle

Educational theory and subject study are already closely integrated with teaching practice which occupies about one-seventh of the three-year course of training. Links between colleges and schools in all sorts of ways are increasing.

Mr. Wells

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the considerable volume of criticism by recently trained teachers that too few of the instructors at their teacher-training colleges had any experience of practical teaching? Will a closer integration on that level be considered?

Sir E. Boyle

I should not accept too easily generalisations on this subject. Clearly, the burden of teaching practice will grow and that is why I have asked the institutes of education to survey the likely position in their own areas for the years to come as the training colleges continue to grow so rapidly.

Mr. Sydney Irvine

I recognise that there is close co-operation between many colleges and schools, but will the Minister consider encouraging the establishment of experimental schools attached to training colleges and institutes of education which could be used for this purpose and a wide range of other purposes in the work of these colleges?

Sir E. Boyle

I should like to see that question on the Order Paper. However, clearly there is room for experiments. For example, 11 training colleges have been invited to experiment with the use of closed circuit television to enable students to observe classes of school children and the practices of the best teachers.