Mr. RichardWainwright asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children aged 16 years chose to leave school at Easter 1979, Easter 1980 and at the spring bank holiday 1979 and 1980; and what percentages those figures represent when expressed as a proportion of all those fifth-formers entitled to do so.
Dr. Boy sonIn 1979, 45,000 boys and girls aged 16 left English schools in the spring term representing 14 per cent, of those entitled to do so.
A further 266,000 had left by the end of May, amounting to 35 per cent, of the whole fifth form: any pupil becoming 16 during the academic year could leave by that date. Figures for 1980 are not yet available but at similar percentages the totals would be 46,000 (Easter) and 274,000 (April/May).
Number teaching Percentage of all teachers teaching religious education Percentage of total time-tabled tuition in religious education provided by these teachers Teachers whose main subject or highest qualification was religious education 4,400 20 40 Teachers with other qualifications in religious education 4,800 22 31 Teachers with no qualification in religious education 12,800 58 29 Total 22,000 100 100
§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of secondary schools with no one on their staff (a) possessing a religious education qualification of any type or (b) having trained with religious education as their main subject, and the number of schools where no provision is made on the timetable for pupils to study for public examinations in religious education in CSE, in GCE at O-level, or in GCE at A-level respectively.
§ Dr. BoysonEstimates of the number of schools without such teachers could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information about study for public examinations is not available in my Department.