§ Mr. Alan Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trainee teachers in each of the last five years failed to complete the probationary year; and how many failed to qualify at the end of it.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend receives from LEAs each year a relatively small number of recommendations that a probationary teacher should be declared unsuitable. The number of teachers over the last five years in respect of whom such a recommendation has been received and who have been determined by my right hon. Friend at the end of their probationary period as unsuitable for further employment as a qualified teacher is as follows:
- 1980—21
- 1981—30
- 1982—19
- 1983—17
- 1984—19
Information is not available on the number of those who leave employment as teachers, for whatever reason, before completing their probationary period. Probationary teachers normally serve a one-year period of probation, though LEAs have discretion to extend, reduce or waive the period of probation. In the majority of cases where an LEA recommends that a probationer be declared unsuitable, probation will have been extended before a final decision on unsuitablity is taken.