HC Deb 04 June 1997 vol 295 cc190-1W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many newly qualified teachers failed to gain employment on leaving college in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1371]

Ms Estelle Morris

The following table shows the number of students who successfully completed initial teacher training and their employment status at 31 March in the year after completion, for the most recent years available.

Position of BEd and PGCE completers at 31 March following calendar year of completion2
Calendar year of completion
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Total completers in England and Wales 15,830 17,300 20,700 23,340 25,440
In service3 at 31 March of year following completion in England and Wales:
Maintained schools 12,080 13,240 14,550 16,240 17,290
Other service4 520 460 750 880 980
Never in service1 in England and Wales 3,160 3,520 5,320 6,150 7,110

Source:

DfEE, Database of Teacher Records.

Notes:

1 The position at 31 March in the year after completion comes from service records collected for the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (TSS). Qualified students who obtain a teaching appointment in an institution that is not covered by the TSS are shown as "never in service". For example, those who take up appointments in the "old" university sector, in the independent sector without TSS membership, or outside England and Wales.

2 A considerable number of newly qualified teachers take a year or more before starting teaching. Data from teachers qualifying in 1993 indicate that around 8 per cent. were not in service in March 1994, but were in service one year later.

3 Including less than 100 teachers who entered service following completion of ITT who had already left by 31 March of the year following completion.

4 Any other sector or institutions with TSS membership, eg some independent schools, further education.