Teachers (Hansard, 25 January 1972)

§ Mr. Dormand
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science for what subjects there is a shortage of teachers in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. van Straubenzee
The subjects for which there is the greatest shortage of teachers in secondary schools are mathematics, English, French, physics and handicraft. In all except the last-named the main need is for more 421W graduate teachers. I am glad to say that the number of graduates at present in training is 21 per cent. higher than that for the previous year, and that applications for postgraduate training beginning next autumn are running at a much higher level still than at the corresponding time last year; applications from mathematicians and scientists have increased more than those for most other subjects.

§ Mr. Dormand
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the increase in the number of teachers required for infant schools; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. van Straubenzee
No. The training establishments have responded well to the request made in February, 1970, to increase the proportion of students training to teach younger children and there has been some improvement, but local education authorities are still having to appoint to infant schools some teachers whose training has been aimed at other age groups. The increasing rate of applications for training, if maintained, should assist further progress.

§ Mr. Dormand
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the number of teachers undertaking work with maladjusted children; what changes she envisages in the arrangements for the training of such teachers; whether she is satisfied with the geographical distribution of the teachers; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. van Straubenzee
More teachers with the requisite personal qualities are needed for work with maladjusted children. There are two in-service courses for teachers intending to work with maladjusted children, and many of the more general courses for teachers of handicapped children deal with the particular needs of children with emotional and behavioural problems. A number of training colleges now offer options in various aspects of special education, including maladjustment, as part of the initial training of teachers. The training of teachers for special education generally was among the topics considered by the Committee of Inquiry into the Training of Teachers under the chairmanship of Lord James. I am not aware of any geographical maldistribution of the teachers available.
422W

§ Mr. Dormand
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the figures for the pupil/teacher ratio in schools for educationally sub-normal children for the whole of England for the last six years.

§ Mr. van Straubenzee
The pupil/teacher ratios in schools for educationally sub-normal children were as follows:

At January each year

1966 12.9^*

1967 12.6^*

1968 12.5

1969 12.5

1970 12.1

1971 12.0

^* The details for England only are not available for these years and the figures relate to England and Wales; the figures for later years relate to England alone.

At January each year
1966	12.9^*
1967	12.6^*
1968	12.5
1969	12.5
1970	12.1
1971	12.0
^* The details for England only are not available for these years and the figures relate to England and Wales; the figures for later years relate to England alone.