§ 21. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to appoint school counsellors in secondary schools.
§ Miss BaconI am watching the development of the service provided by school counsellors, but it is too soon to reach the conclusion that they should be specially appointed in all secondary schools.
§ Mr. PriceIs my right hon. Friend aware that, particularly in careers guidance, it is unreasonable to expect ordinary serving teachers with a full timetable to undertake the whole burden in any particular secondary school? From this point of view, although she cannot agree to a school counsellor in every secondary school, how many have already been appointed?
§ Miss BaconI agree about the desirability of school counsellors and I should like to see them appointed in secondary schools, but some teachers feel that this duty should be shared among existing teachers rather than made the subject of special appointments. Perhaps my hon. Friend would give me notice of his question about the numbers at present in secondary schools.