HC Deb 27 November 1967 vol 755 cc15-7W
Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set out, in tabular form, for the last date for which figures are available the number of local education authorities which are employing part-time teachers to an extent equivalent, respectively, to 15, ten, five and three per cent. of their total teaching strength, together with comparable figures for the preceding year.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Following is the information for maintained primary and secondary schools:

Number of authorities
Per cent. of teaching time represented by part-time teachers 1st October, 1966 1st October, 1967
3 per cent. or more 133 137
5 per cent. or more 96 100
10 per cent. or more 8 20
15 per cent. or more nil nil

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total size of the part-time teaching force at the last date for which figures are available; and what is his estimate of the extent to which its size would be increased if all local education authorities employed part-time teachers to an extent equivalent, respectively, to 15, ten and five per cent. of their total teaching strength.

Mr. Gordon Walker

On 1st October, 1967, there were in maintained primary and secondary schools 42,429 part-time teachers, whose full-time equivalent was 20,642 or 6.4 per cent. of the total teaching strength. Assuming the same average full-time equivalence and the same number of full-time teachers, 10 per cent. of the total teaching strength would amount to about 70,000 part-timers and 15 per cent. to 110,000.

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of part-time teachers, expressed as a percentage of a local education authorities total teaching strength, he recommends as the maximum attainable that is consistent with the preservation of high teaching standards; and what steps he is taking to revise this figure.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Circular 6/65 asked authorities to adopt 5 per cent. as their minimum aim, and to move on to 10 per cent. and beyond. I cannot generalise about the maximum percentage that is educationally acceptable.

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the net increase in the number of part-time teachers in the last year for which figures are available, and how that net figure was composed as between gross recruitment and wastage rates of part-time teachers during that period; and how such wastage rate compares with its equivalent for part-time teachers in preceding years and for full-time teachers in the same year.

Mr. Gordon Walker

The net increase in the number of part-time teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools between 1st October, 1966, and 1st October, 1967, was 4,523. The rest of the information sought is not available.

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total, or estimated total, amount of money spent by his Department and local education authorities together in the last year for which figures are available, in advertising for, recruiting, retraining and induction of part-time teachers, and the net increase during the same period in the number of part-time teachers in service.

Mr. Gordon Walker

I am afraid the information sought in the first part of the Question is not available. In the financial year ending 31st March, 1967, £39,855 was spent on behalf of the Department specifically on advertising to attract married women to return to teaching whether full-time or part-time. Between 1st February, 1966, and 1st February, 1967, the number of teachers in part-time service in maintained primary and secondary schools rise by 5,246.

Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State 'or Education and Science what is his present estimate of the number of trained teachers who are not now teaching, but available to be attracted back to teaching and of the percentage of those available who have been attracted back.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Since this depends on the changing circumstances of individuals I am unable to make an estimate.