Primary School Teachers (Hansard, 12 July 1994)

§ 8. Mr. Pickthall
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the Warwick university research into pressures on primary school teachers.

§ Mr. Forth
I pay tribute to the conscientious commitment of most teachers to the principle and implementation of the national curriculum for the benefit of pupils, as confirmed by that research. The findings of Warwick university's report on teachers' workload have been overtaken by the Dearing review and the Government's subsequent proposals for reductions in the content of the national curriculum.

§ Mr. Pickthall
Does the Minister appreciate the seriousness of much of what is in the Warwick university report, which shows that large numbers of primary school teachers suffer from what it calls burn-out from increased illness, increased drinking and an average 56-hour week? As that follows years of incessant change and increased bureaucracy, do the Government accept responsibility?
Would not it be a good idea if the Minister or one of his ministerial colleagues spent a month teaching a year six class in a primary school? They would then realise the Herculean task that faces teachers in that sector.

§ Mr. Forth
I counsel the hon. Gentleman against what the authors of the report described as premature extrapolation—taking some of its findings and drawing unmerited conclusions from them. If the hon. Gentleman seriously thinks that unqualified teachers should be allowed into classrooms, for whatever motive, he should ask the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg), who is sitting at his left hand, whether he would approve.
The report contains much that is worthy of thought and consideration and I would not want to dismiss it in any way. However, the picture that the hon. Gentleman portrays of our schools is wholly at odds with that which I and my ministerial colleagues see when we visit schools, as we do so often.

§ Sir Malcolm Thornton
Does my hon. Friend accept the evidence that has come before the Education Select Committee which shows that much of the work done by the Dearing review has resulted in a decrease in the workload in our schools? However, much remains to be done, especially in the area increasingly being called non-contact time. I refer my hon. Friend to the excellent Select Committee report, due to be published tomorrow, which deals with those very problems.

§ Mr. Forth
Lest prematurity become rampant, I—and I am sure my hon. Friend, who chaired the Select Committee so ably—would not want to reveal the contents of the Select Committee report at this stage. However, I very much look forward—as do we all—to studying it carefully, as I am sure that it will add greatly to our knowledge and inform us as to the way ahead.

§ Mrs. Ann Taylor
Does the Minister acknowledge that the report shows that all the Government's changes over the past few years have not succeeded in raising standards among young people; that they have increased stress and anxiety for many dedicated teachers; and that the picture is far from the rosy one that he was painting a moment ago? Will he confirm that early retirement of teachers on health grounds is now at record levels and costing taxpayers record amounts of money and that our schools are losing valuable and dedicated staff? Will he now accept that the frequent chopping and changing and the constant experimentation that have been the hallmark of the past two years have been costly to the taxpayer and, more important, have done great educational damage to our children?

§ Mr. Forth
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for reminding me to look closely again at the terms on which teachers are allowed to retire early, whether on health or on other grounds. Some of the schemes would bear closer examination than they have received until now. I am grateful to the hon. Lady for reminding me of the matter and, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would say, I shall look at it as soon as I get back to the Department.