§ 10. Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East) (Lab)What his latest estimate is of the number of support staff working in schools; and if he will make a statement. [175999]
§ The Minister for School Standards (Mr. David Miliband)In January 2004, there were 241,700 full-time equivalent support staff employed in maintained schools in England—an increase of over 100,000 since 1997. Further information is available in the House of Commons Library. In addition, teacher numbers rose by 4,000 over the past year, and there has been an increase of 28,000 since 1997. That is obviously excellent news for schools and school standards.
§ Dr. IddonThe Save British Science Society has found that practical classes in science are often cancelled for a variety of reasons, including poor pupil behaviour. Will my hon. Friend look at the supply of laboratory technicians? They are not well paid, and there are few training courses available for them, yet they are essential to the setting-up and efficient and safe running of practical classes in science.
§ Mr. MilibandI completely agree. When I appeared before the Science and Technology Committee a year or so ago, we spoke about this issue, and I explained that work force reform and the inclusion of a range of adults with expertise from the community could play a major role in schools. I certainly envisage a continuing increase in school support staff, including those vital laboratory technicians to whom my hon. Friend referred.
§ Mr. John Gummer (Suffolk, Coastal) (Con)Will the Minister explain to the House what plans he has to raise the status and acceptance of support staff, who are important to the proper running of our schools? They play an increasingly important role, and should be seen for what they are—an essential part of education, not an add-on extra.
§ Mr. MilibandThe right hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I hope that he agrees that it is less a 1708 matter of acceptance—there is widespread acceptance of the important role that laboratory technicians can play—than of status, which is important. The work force reform agreement, which establishes clear teaching support roles for support staff, will provide them with the status that is demanded. Allied to that is a career structure for laboratory technicians that has not previously existed and a training system to support them. All those things will help to turn the acceptance that he and I think is important into the status that we also agree is vital. The first question today, which was answered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, about the role of volunteer graduate students and others in the classroom, demonstrated an important adjunct to the role of laboratory technicians, drawn from universities and elsewhere.