HC Deb 04 April 1989 vol 150 c122W
Sir Michael McNair-Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are employed in schools in the state sector; and if he will break the figures down according to age and sex.

Mr. Butcher

The total number of teachers and instructors employed in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools sector in England in January 1988 (the latest date for which figues are available) was 425.5 thousand, including those employed part-time or on an occasional basis. Their total full-time equivalent was 401.5 thousand.

More detailed information by age and sex on the breakdown of teachers is available only in relation to qualified teachers in full-time regular service and at an earlier date (March 1986). The figures (in thousands) are:

Men Women Men and women
Under 30 17.0 41.8 58.7
30–34 27.9 35.6 63.5
35–39 37.3 39.6 76.9
40–44 23.7 33.5 57.2
45–49 18.4 32.9 51.3
50–54 14.0 26.8 40.8
55 or over 11.7 16.8 28.6
All ages 150.0 226.9 376.9