HC Deb 11 January 2001 vol 360 cc617-8W
19. Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the recruitment and retention of teachers. [143478]

Ms Estelle Morris

Overall, there were 6,900 more teachers in post in January 2000 than January 1998 and 5,400 more than January 1997. A survey carried out by my Department in September 2000 suggested that the secondary school figure for that month was about the same as in January that year. This year has seen the first rise in the number of people entering teacher training since 1992.

20. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the recruitment of teachers in shortage subjects. [143479]

Ms Estelle Morris

Compared to 1998, before we introduced Golden Hellos, recruitment so far this year to initial teacher training courses is up 5 per cent. for science and 15 per cent. for maths. Incentives for modern languages and technology were introduced from September 2000. Recruitment so far this year is up on last, by 9 per cent. for technology and 11 per cent. for modern languages. A further 397 people have started secondary training in these four subjects through the Graduate Teacher Programme.

21. Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on how many persons were recruited for initial teacher training for secondary school maths teaching in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 2000–01 including recruitment under the Graduate Teacher Programme. [143480]

Ms Estelle Morris

Recruitment to secondary initial teacher training in maths declined steadily between 1994–95 and the introduction of Golden Hellos. The figure for 1996–97 was 1,650. So far this year, 1,360 people have started training in maths, including through the Graduate Teacher Programme, which we introduced in January 1998. Between 1994–95 and 1997–98, recruitment to secondary teacher training courses in maths fell by 25 per cent. Since 1998–99 it has risen by 14 per cent. There will be a further intake to the Graduate Teacher Programme in the summer term.

22. Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of newly qualified teachers joining the teaching profession. [143481]

Ms Estelle Morris

Around 70 per cent. of newly qualified teachers in England, in both 1997 and 1998, were in service in the maintained sector in England and Wales the March following qualification. Others were in service in further or higher education institutions or the independent sector. Some newly qualified teachers take a gap period before taking up teaching posts. By five years after qualification, some 80 per cent. of teachers have at some stage worked in the maintained sector.