§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that teacher training courses currently being run contain sufficient instruction methods on pupil discipline and control; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnMost teacher training courses include a course module or unit on classroom management and control. However, this is an area in which there is no substitute for practical experience in the classroom. New criteria for the approval of initial teacher training courses issued last year by my right hon. Friend, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, require that in future all courses should include a substantial element of school experience and teaching practice and that this should offer experience of class management and control. The criteria also make it clear that in no case should a qualification carrying qualified teacher status be awarded to a student whose practical classroom work is unsatisfactory.