§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the likely impact on recruitment of specialist teachers as a result of the recent reductions in the numbers of teacher training courses for teachers of maths. [31751]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Government have set the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) a target of 2,150 entrants to teacher training courses for secondary maths teaching in 1998–99, compared with a target of 2,250 in 1997–98. Each year the Government review the demand for newly-qualified teachers in each phase and secondary subject, taking into account the latest information on relevant factors. The targets issued reflect the estimated demand, so recruitment to target should ensure an adequate supply of qualified teachers. In November 1997, the Department published an explanatory paper on 'Teacher Supply and Demand Modelling', a copy of which is in the Library.