§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many graduates in(a) maths, (b) physics and (c) chemistry are expected to commence teacher training in the current year; and how many commenced teacher training in each of the preceding five years. [92750]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe numbers of entrants to PGCE initial teacher training in maths and science in England and Wales for the five years 1994–95 to 1998–99 are given in the following table.
Intake to PGCE initial teacher training (ITT) in England and Wales to train in maths and science, 1994–95 to 1998–99 Year Maths Science 1994–95 1,651 2,714 1995–96 1,575 2,686 1996–97 1,443 2,705 1997–98 1,233 2,590 1998–991 981 2,195 1 Provisional mid-year data Sources:
England: Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 1994–95; TTA Survey of ITT Providers 1995–96 to 1998–99
Wales: Welsh Office 1994–95; Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 1995–96 to 1998–99
It is too early to predict recruitment to PGCE courses in 1999–2000. However, following the introduction of £5,000 incentives in maths and science, applications have gone up substantially, by 37 per cent. for maths to 1,306 and 24 per cent. for science to 2,784. Within the figure for science there have been increases of 33 per cent. for physics and 27 per cent. for chemistry. We are therefore confident that the decline in recruitment since 1995 will be reversed this year. The following table taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's Student Record Survey shows the percentage of those commencing PGCE 180W teacher training who were graduates in maths, physics and chemistry in the years 1995–96 and 1997–98. These are the subjects of first degree and not necessarily the subjects or phase in which the student is undertaking teacher training. Information for the current year and 1998–99 is not yet available. There are a significant proportion of students for whom the first degree subject is unknown. The subjects of first degree do not include combined courses, or closely related courses such as engineering.
Percentage of those commencing PGCE initial teacher training (ITT) in England and Wales with first degrees in maths, physics or chemistry, 1995–96 to 1997–98 Year Maths Physics Chemistry 1995–96 4 1 2 1996–97 3 1 2 1997–98 3 1 2 Note:
Statistics has been included with maths
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency's Student Record Survey
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many trainees have been placed in schools or are to be placed in schools under his scheme to train 600 new maths and science teachers on the job; and how many of the trainees are graduates in(a) maths and (b) science. [92749]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Teacher Training Agency (TTA) awarded a contract for the administration of the Maths and Science Placement Scheme in April. Over the next year, the programme will recruit 600 mature graduates in maths and science and match them to suitable vacancies in schools on the Graduate Teacher Programme. Approximately 300 will train as maths teachers and 300 as science teachers. We are still at an early stage of the scheme, but the TTA have already received 436 applications.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of(a) maths and (b) science teachers returning to teaching following his initiative to encourage returners to teaching. [92751]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe do not at present have figures in the form requested. Information on those returning to teaching after the package of measures announced in October 1998 will be produced in due course, but the latest data available now relate to 1996–97.