HC Deb 03 November 1987 vol 121 cc772-4
8. Mr. Martyn Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on Her Majesty's inspectors' 1987 annual report; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

I have received one letter, from the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), which raised various issues in the context of Her Majesty's inspector's report, but have received no other specific representations.

Mr. Jones

Does the Secretary of State accept the report of his inspectorate and, if so, what does he intend to do about the shortcomings in teacher and library provision, but most of all in accommodation in schools? All those shortcomings are prevalent in Clwyd, which is a Tory-Independent council.

Mr. Baker

May I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to some of the phrases that were used in the report about provision, because he asked me about provision in schools. The report states: unsatisfactory standards of provision are often more related to ineffective deployment of people and resources than to shortages of the resources themselves. The report continued by stating specifically: in many visits books were found to be ignored even though adequate stocks existed.

Mr. Madel

Is it not a fact that the HMI report also referred to improved standards of teaching, better standards in the classroom and parental appreciation for the wider curriculum and opportunities that this Government have brought about?

Mr. Baker

I am naturally pleased that in eight out of 10 of the classes observed the pupil response to the education provided was satisfactory or better, but that leaves no room for complacency. Throughout the country, in all our schools, for all our pupils—whatever their ability—the object of all our reforms is to improve the basic quality of education.

Mr. Spearing

Does the Secretary of State recall that right from the foundations of our system of public education Her Majesty's inspectors have been wholly independent? In view of the stories that have been told and the speeches that have been made on this topic in the past two years, will the Secretary of State now tell the House that he has no plans to change the status of Her Majesty's Inspectorate to something other than what it has historically and properly received?

Mr. Baker

I absolutely confirm that one of the great strengths of the education system is the independence of the inspectorate. Although I am responsible for "pay and rations" the inspectorate publishes its reports independently of submitting them to me. It offers independent advice and I believe that that is one of the strengths of the system.

Mr. Rowe

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the biggest single difficulty found by the inspectors in those classes judged to be unsatisfactory was that children were not being stretched, and that, of course, leads, among other things, to disciplinary problems. Would it be fair to say that one of the difficulties of the present moment is that education authorities find it hard to let teachers go away for long periods for training? In those circumstances, will my right hon. Friend make it easier for teachers to teach themselves at home with the aid of distance learning and other techniques that have proved successful in other professions?

Mr. Baker

That is an interesting idea. I believe that my hon. Friend will be aware that we are now spending more than ever before in our history on in-service training—more than £200 million in special, specific grant this year. I echo something that my hon. Friend said, and that is that the constant comment that I find in the inspectors' reports is that far too many people in the system, teachers and parents, have far too low expectations of what can be achieved by children. I agree with my hon. Friend that if children can be stretched to their fullest ability they usually give much more.

Mrs. Clwyd

While the Minister may not yet have received many letters on this subject, does he not agree that there is widespread concern that Her Majesty's Inspectorate's report said that sub-standard accommodation was affecting the quality of pupils' work in a fifth of the classes seen? Will he confirm that there are known examples of school buildings—highlighted by the report—where local authorities have acknowledged potential dangers to children, but have not had the money to d o anything about them? Would it not be better if the right hon. Gentleman addressed himself to those problems rather than introduce so-called reforms that only he and the Prime Minister seem to want?

Mr. Baker

The hon. Lady must await the statement by the Chancellor this afternoon on other matters—public expenditure and education. I publish the reports, whereas the Labour party produced expenditure reports every year from 1974 and never published one. I can understand why the Labour party will not talk about the management of resources in our schools when it made such a mess of managing the economy.

Mr. Patrick Thompson

Bearing in mind that the inspectors' report highlighted the quality and efficiency of any given school and bearing in mind that nothing is more important for the quality of a school than the quality and efficiency of the head teacher, will my right hon. Friend give serious thought to further ways of improving the ability of head teachers to manage and direct their schools? Will he give thought to the possibility of a staff college for head teachers?

Mr. Baker

The latter idea has many attractions. My hon. Friend will be aware from the pay settlement for this year that we have increased the differentials for deputy and head teachers and have asked the Interim Advisory Committee to look again at the question of differentials.