HC Deb 08 June 1967 vol 747 cc1276-7
28. Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from the National Association of Schoolmasters concerning the proposal to raise the school leaving age to sixteen years during 1970–71; what reply has been sent; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Crosland

The Association sent me a resolution, passed by its Annual Conference last year, calling upon the Government to delay the raising of the school leaving age. I subsequently arranged for a deputation from the Association to be received and they put their case orally. No written reply was called for.

Mr. Biffen

Does not this incident confirm that there is a growing volume of responsible opinion which argues that the raising of the school leaving age must take deferred priority in the use of any resources likely to be made available for education?

Mr. Crosland

No. My view is that there is an overwhelming majority of responsible educational opinion which thinks, on the contrary, that on the widest educational and social grounds this is a major piece of reform.

Mr. McNamara

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that, particularly in the North, the only way in which to get this positive educational advance of persuading people to stay on at school is by raising the school leaving age to 16?

Sir E. Boyle

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that a misleading interpretation has been put on the Economist Intelligence Unit Report commissioned by the N.A.S. and that this report shows that the shortage of full-time teachers, after allowing for part-timers, in 1971 will in fact be 36,000 teachers and not 69,000?

Mr. Crosland

I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has raised that matter, which is rather far off this Question. However, I am glad he did, because the headlines which this report has aroused are all extremely misleading. They wholly exclude the force of part-time teachers who contribute an enormous amount to our schools now. If part-time teachers are taken into account the picture is much less gloomy than the headlines have suggested.