§ 14. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies he is making of the ways in which students on teaching practice in schools can be drawn more fully into the life of the school and help to relieve its manpower problems.
§ Miss BaconThe Department is sponsoring research into teaching practice at Bristol University and further research is planned. There was a conference on the subject at Exeter University in March this year which representatives of the Department and Her Majesty's Inspectorate attended. Many colleges of education are experimenting in new ways of making teaching practice more profitable to students and schools.
§ Mr. PriceDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that most of the periods of teaching practice spent by students in school are far too short for the students to fit into the life of the school at all, and, further, will she agree that we give our teachers on teaching practice in school far less responsibility in the school than, for instance, student nurses have in hospital? Will my right hon. Friend urge some action in this matter?
§ Miss BaconThe periods may be short, but we must strike a balance here. Although I feel that more could be done about students on school practice, we must ensure that there is no substitution a qualified teacher by a student, because the purpose of the student's being there is to gain help in teaching.