HC Deb 21 June 1988 vol 135 cc952-4
2. Mr. Martlew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department is in a position to make an assessment of the number of vacant head teacher posts; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Kenneth Baker)

My Department estimates that at January 1988 approximately 300 head teacher posts were vacant. That is only slightly more than 1 per cent. of head teacher posts.

Mr. Martlew

Does the Secretary of State recognise that we have a growing problem with head teachers leaving the profession, many through early retirement, and that there is great difficulty in recruiting replacements? I understand that 50 per cent. of all head teacher jobs advertised in London have to be readvertised because of the lack of suitable applicants. Even in my constituency of Carlisle, for which Cumbria is the education authority, we now have a staff turnover of 10 per cent. Will not the new Education Reform Bill, with its ideas of turning head teachers into managing directors, add to that problem? We are likely to lose many of our best and most experienced head teachers. Will the Secretary of State make available £35 million to train head teachers, as requested by the National Association of Head Teachers? Will the Secretary of State meet the head teachers union to discuss their problems?

Mr. Baker

In answer to the hon. Gentleman's many questions, the interim advisory committee found no evidence of serious recruitment problems affecting head teacher posts. Certainly I have never heard that head teachers and teachers do not want to work in Cumbria —that is one of the more popular areas for teachers.

As for training, there will have to be extra training for teachers, particularly in managment skills. I am setting up a task force to plan and arrange that. The hon. Gentleman is quite right in that regard, but I can assure him that he is taking far too gloomy a view. Many head teachers are looking forward to the opportunities that the Bill will provide in giving them much bigger and better responsibilities.

Mr. Pawsey

I am certain that head teachers are looking forward to the Education Reform Bill becoming an Act, because of the additional opportunities that it will provide. To what extent do premature retirements figure in head teacher vacancies? Will my right hon. Friend also say a word about indiscipline in schools? In his opinion, is that preventing recruitment?

Mr. Baker

There is not a great deal of convincing evidence that there are a large number of premature retirements. I reported that there were 300 head teacher vacancies in January 1988—the first time that we have collected the figures. That is against 30,000 head teacher posts, and it is a very small figure indeed.

I and the Government are very conscious of the problems of violence and indiscipline in schools. That is why I have set up the Elton committee. Lord Elton and his committee are making rapid progress and I look to them to report by Christmas.

Mr. Barry Jones

Is the Secretary of State aware of the report that showed that many hundreds of head teachers are seeking early retirement? Is not the Government's brutal approach to salaries and conditions of service creating that problem? Is the right hon. Gentleman not creating a legacy of and bad morale in our schools that will affect the education of our children for many years to come?

Mr. Baker

I do not agree. For the first time in the history of the teaching profession head teachers of the large comprehensives in our inner cities can earn as much as£32,000 a year. There is now effective career progression for teachers, with incentive allowances. There is no doubt that that will attract many people into the profession.

Mr. John M. Taylor

Does my right hon. Friend agree that these vacant headships are mainly in politically perverse LEAs?

Mr. Baker

I do not have the figures, but I am sure that there is some connection.

Mr. Fatchett

Has the Secretary of State noticed a recent survey by Oxford polytechnic, which showed that half the head teacher posts vacant in London and the south-east were not filled on the first advertisement and that schools had run for some time without a head teacher? Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed the recent comments by the National Association of Head Teachers, which has expressed its concern about the increasing burden placed on head teachers by the Education Reform Bill? The association has predicted that there will be an increase in the number of early retirements and suggested that Government action is needed to prevent head teachers from leaving the profession. In particular, the association has proposed expenditure of £35 million to establish a staff college for head teachers. Will the Government react positively to that proposal?

Mr. Baker

We shall certainly improve the quality of head teacher training. The task force, which I shall establish later in the year, will plan that. I want to involve the private sector, because private sector management training will be important. In those authorities where budgets have been delegated to heads, the heads have welcomed that move. They have found their jobs more interesting and their control of their schools better. I am sure that head teachers across the country are awaiting the implementation of our Bill.

Mr. Harry Greenway

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is no higher vocation than that of head teacher or deputy head teacher? Is he aware that they require reasonable sanctions with which to deal with difficult and recalcitrant pupils? Has my right hon. Friend seen last week's report by the National Association of Head Teachers, complaining that there have been no proper substitute discipline sanctions for corporal punishment since its abolition about two years ago? Will my right hon. Friend do something about that?

Mr. Baker

My hon. Friend was a deputy head teacher who decided to become a Member of Parliament, and teaching's loss is our gain. He brings great experience to the House. The power of head teachers to control disruptive behaviour is an important matter. Some head teachers feel that their powers have been undermined, and that is one reason why I have set up the Elton committee to report on the matter.