§ 8. Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about educational standards in the Inner London Education Authority.
§ Dr. BoysonAs I informed the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 19 January, my right hon. Friend met representatives of the Inner London Education Authority at their request. Following the publication of the Local Government Finance (No. 1) Bill, he has received more than 3, 000 letters on aspects of education in inner London, including educational standards.
§ Mr. DobsonDoes the Minister agree that the bulk of those representations urge the Government to give proper financial support to the Inner London Education Authority and to acknowledge that the standard of performance in inner London primary schools has risen above the national average? Will that not automatically work its way through to improved standards in secondary schools? Should not the Government stop their stupid, carping criticism of the ILEA and its teachers and give it the money to do the job?
§ Dr. BoysonI am interested in the hon. Gentleman's question. The report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate on London in December 1980 praises the primary schools. However, it also makes it clear that there is not the response and achievement in relation to the resources provided that there is in other areas. The GRE for inner London is £512 million, whereas the intended expenditure, which is still being discussed, is £795 million—55 per cent. above the GRE. The GRE for inner London is already 33 per cent. higher than it would be for a similar number of pupils in the shires.
§ Mr. DickensDoes the Department have any proposals to test the efficiency and effectiveness of teachers after they have passed their first year's initial training? They appear to have a licence to teach for life following that one year. Should they not be tested?
§ Dr. BoysonTeachers must undergo a probationary period, whether in inner London or any other area. We are considering the length of that probationary period and the question of induction. I agree that it is essential that there should be some assessment of teachers at the end of their probationary period.
§ Mr. DubsDoes the Minister agree that if the Inner London Education Authority were to reduce its expenditure to the GRE level, the effect would be a drastic fall in education standards in inner London?
§ Dr. BoysonAs the number of pupils who obtain five 0-levels in London is half the percentage for the rest of the country, I should hate to see a further fall. If the expenditure were reduced to £670 million, a grant would then be given by the Government. London would gain £19 for every £10 cut, because for every £10 cut a Government grant of £9 would be put in as a bonus. I am sure that that would be welcomed by most ratepayers in inner London.
§ Mr. BrintonDoes my hon. Friend agree that education spending has doubled during the past 20 years in real terms—probably more in inner London—but that standards in inner London, if they have risen at all, have risen minutely? Surely it is not a question of spending and resources, but of proper teaching of proper subjects.
§ Dr. BoysonI agree with my hon. Friend. The HMI report of December 1980 on the subject of inner London states:
Schools have, in any case, very generous staffing, resources and funding which in HMI's view they do not always deploy wisely. There are disturbing examples of waste and inefficiency.In other words, ILEA can save the money and still maintain or raise the standards.