§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what
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§ Mr. Golding,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 233], gave the following information:
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:
minimum qualifications are required for the teaching of mathematics in primary schools;
(2) whether she is considering recommending a change in primary school teaching whereby class teachers responsible for all subjects should be required to attain specified standards in mathematics before being allowed to teach that subject.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonTo teach in a maintained primary school a person must be a qualified teacher, this status normally being acquired by successful completion of an approved course of initial teacher training. There is no statutory requirement as to the qualifications in mathematics a teacher must have to teach the subject, the choice of teachers for particular posts and the deployment of serving teachers being matters for the local education authorities and the schools. My right hon. Friend welcomes discussion of the question of teaching qualifications during the current regional conferences she and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have arranged, and will, in the light of this discussion, consider whether any change is necessary.
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§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what percentage of specialist mathematics posts is filled by teachers without minimal qualifications in mathematics;
(2) how many qualified teachers in secondary schools are teaching mathematics, having failed O-level mathematics themselves.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonInformation about the qualifications of, and the subjects being taught by, secondary school teachers has not hitherto been collected; but my right hon. Friend intends to seek it in the autumn from a sample of secondary schools.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what discussions she is having regarding the problem of recruiting mathematicians to teach in secondary schools and in particular to consider the question of the absence of minimum standards in this subject;
(2) if she will state the causes of the difficulty of recruiting mathematicians for teaching in secondary schools.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe shortage of sufficient well-qualified teachers of mathematics to secondary schools is a complex and longstanding problem, which is under continuing review by the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers. My Department is currently in discussion with the local authority associations about possible means of increasing recruitment, within the resources available, and has invited a number of training institutions to consider providing retraining courses for teachers with A-level mathematics who have not previously specialised in the subject. The question of specifying minimum standards for entry to teacher training courses is under consideration.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she intends to review the salaries, status and work conditions in schools in view of the present difficulty to recruit sufficient teachers in mathematics in secondary schools.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonLocal education authorities, school governors and managers and head teachers are allowed666W considerable flexibility in the deployment of promoted posts and the organisation of work in the schools. Both teachers' salaries in general and the available proportion of promoted posts were substantially increased in 1975, following the recommendations of the Houghton Committee (Cmnd 5848).
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has to encourage local education authorities to give in-service training in the techniques and teaching of mathematics to poorly qualified teachers.
§ Mr. OakesMy right hon. Friend has made clear to the local authorities that she attaches great priority to an expansion of in-service training to provide increased opportunities for teachers to reinforce, develop and extend their professional skills. She is confident that in determining their own priorities authorities will give particular consideration to in-service training needs in mathematics.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions she has had with the universities concerning the in-service training of secondary school teachers teaching O and A level mathematics.
§ Mr. OakesNone with the universities collectively, but my Department and Her Majesty's Inspectorate have discussions from time to time with individual universities about proposals for courses.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions she is having with a view to altering the present Certificate of Education to ensure that the competence to teach mathematics or not is revealed.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonNone. It is for the awarding bodies to decide what details should be shown on certificates of education, and some give subject details. It is also open to prospective employers to seek whatever further information they may need about teachers' qualifications.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what 667W talks she is having with the Joint Mathematical Council on the question of recognised standards to be laid down for teaching of mathematics at various levels.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe Joint Mathematical Council is being invited to be represented at one of the current conferences on educational problems, and my right hon. Friend will take note of any views expressed then or sent to her separately.