HC Deb 12 May 1986 vol 97 cc317-8W
Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals to seek to control the time teachers spend on duties outside the classroom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chris Patten

No; talks between the parties under the leadership of an independent panel appointed by ACAS are now in progress on, among other things, a clear definition of the contractual duties and responsibilities of teachers and their employers. The Education Bill includes a provision in clause 37 giving the Secretary of State an enabling power which, if used, would require LEAs to appraise the performance of teachers in discharging their duties and engaging in other activities. I refer my hon.

(b) a graduate employment study sponsored by CNAA and my Department and carried out under the direction of Miss B. Hollinshead of Manchester Polytechnic. The Technical Report of the project ("Early Careers of Graduates") was published this month and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

(c) a 1982 survey of final year undergraduates, which formed part of a research project commissioned by my Department from Professor Kogan of Brunel University. The results are summarised in "Expectations of Higher Education: A synopsis and commentary on its main findings" (published in 1984). A copy is in the Library.