Teachers (Hansard, 14 March 1972)

§ 83. Mr. Brewis
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to continue the Teachers' Special Recruitment (Scotland) Scheme.

§ Mr. Gordon Campbell
I welcome the entry to teaching of mature individuals, particularly those with experience of industry and commerce. In the light, however, of the prospective supply situation in the middle and late 1970s and of the alternative forms of assistance available from public funds for those seeking to enter the profession, I have concluded that a continuation of the scheme on its present broad basis would no longer be justified. I have therefore decided to restrict the scheme to two categories of persons, namely, older graduates and people with equivalent qualifications, who80W wish to train as primary or secondary teachers; and specialists in technical subjects who wish to take courses leading to a teaching qualification in technical education. These categories are not in general eligible for support from other public funds. Assistance under the scheme will no longer be available for other courses, whether of higher education or professional training or for preliminary study for entry to such courses.
None of those affected by this narrowing of the scope of the scheme could in any case be qualified to teach before session 1976–77 when I do not expect that there will be any general staffing difficulty. Most such candidates will moreover be able to apply for assistance from other public funds—from the Students' Allowances Scheme for higher education and professional training and from education authorities under the bursaries regulations for study for entry qualifications.
From tomorrow no further applications will be entertained for grants under the scheme to assist the applicants to gain entry qualifications to courses of higher education or professional training. The other changes in the scheme will take effect from 1st August, 1972. Applications received by college selection boards before the dates mentioned will be treated under the old arrangements. Students already receiving support under the scheme will not be affected.

§ 84. Mr. Brewis
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a revised forecast of teacher supply and demand.

§ Mr. Gordon Campbell
Circular No. 819 issued today by my Department sets out the minimum staffing standards for primary schools that most education authorities are working towards and which I propose to prescribe in regulations having effect from the start of session 1972–73. The circular also indicates the improved staffing standards which I have asked authorities to try to achieve by 1975–76. In Table A below the demand for teachers is estimated on the basis of one or other of these standards as appropriate with a year's overlap for the sake of comparison.
The forecast for secondary schools in Table B below is based on a continuation of recent trends in net wastage and 81W in the numbers of graduates and specialist diploma holders entering one-year courses at colleges of education. No revised forecast of demand is possible at this stage. I hope however to publish

Table A—Primary Schools ^*

Session† Estimated number of pupils Estimated demand Estimated supply║ Pupil-teacher ratio

'000 ‡ '000 § '000 '000

1970–71 (actual) … … … 636.3 24.3 — 22.8 27.9: 1

1971–72 … … … 636.5 24.3 — 23.4 27.2: 1

1972–73 … … … 634.2 24.2 — 24.2 26.2: 1

1973–74 … … … 630.0 24.1 — 24.9 25.3: 1

1974–75 … … … 619.6 23.7 26.2 25.6 24.2: 1

1975–76 … … … 607.1 — 25.7 25.8 23.5: 1

Table B—Secondary Schools¶

Session† Estimated number of pupils Estimated supply║ Pupil-teacher ratio

'000 '000

1970–71 (actual) … … … 327.5 20.4 16.0: 1

1971–72 … … … 338.2 21.2 16.0: 1

1972–73 … … … 357.2 22.5 15.8: 1

1973–74 … … … 392.8 23.8 16.5: 1

1974–75 … … … 405.3 24.8 16.3: 1

1975–76 … … … 413.7 26.0 15.9: 1

^* Excludes nursery and special schools.

† The actual figures for session 1970–71 are taken from returns made in January by education authority and grant-aided schools; the forecast figures also relate to January, and are therefore not directly comparable with previous forecasts which related to the autumn term.

‡ Based on the minimum standard for session 1972–73 set out in circular with an additional allowance for remedial teachers and visiting specialist teachers.

§ Based on the standard to which authorities are asked to aim by session 1975–76 with an additional allowance for remedial teachers and visiting specialist teachers.

║ Including remedial teachers and visiting specialist teachers.

¶ Excludes special schools.

Table A—Primary Schools ^*
Session†	Estimated number of pupils	Estimated demand	Estimated supply║	Pupil-teacher ratio
				'000	‡ '000	§ '000	'000
1970–71 (actual)	…	…	…	636.3	24.3	—	22.8	27.9: 1
1971–72	…	…	…	636.5	24.3	—	23.4	27.2: 1
1972–73	…	…	…	634.2	24.2	—	24.2	26.2: 1
1973–74	…	…	…	630.0	24.1	—	24.9	25.3: 1
1974–75	…	…	…	619.6	23.7	26.2	25.6	24.2: 1
1975–76	…	…	…	607.1	—	25.7	25.8	23.5: 1

Table B—Secondary Schools¶
Session†	Estimated number of pupils	Estimated supply║	Pupil-teacher ratio
	'000	'000
1970–71 (actual)	…	…	…	327.5	20.4	16.0: 1
1971–72	…	…	…	338.2	21.2	16.0: 1
1972–73	…	…	…	357.2	22.5	15.8: 1
1973–74	…	…	…	392.8	23.8	16.5: 1
1974–75	…	…	…	405.3	24.8	16.3: 1
1975–76	…	…	…	413.7	26.0	15.9: 1
^* Excludes nursery and special schools.
† The actual figures for session 1970–71 are taken from returns made in January by education authority and grant-aided schools; the forecast figures also relate to January, and are therefore not directly comparable with previous forecasts which related to the autumn term.
‡ Based on the minimum standard for session 1972–73 set out in circular with an additional allowance for remedial teachers and visiting specialist teachers.
§ Based on the standard to which authorities are asked to aim by session 1975–76 with an additional allowance for remedial teachers and visiting specialist teachers.
║ Including remedial teachers and visiting specialist teachers.
¶ Excludes special schools.