HC Deb 21 February 1975 vol 886 cc554-5W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those secondary schools in the Inner London Education Authority area which, due to staff shortages, are providing only part-time education.

Mr. Prentice

Reduced hours are being worked at the following 13 schools:

  • Abbey Wood
  • Beaufoy
  • Catford
  • Charlton
  • Greenwich Park
  • Kidbrooke
  • Malory
  • Norwood
  • St. Michael's RC, Bermondsey
  • St. William of York, RC
  • Scott Lidgett
  • South Hackney
  • Spencer Park

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Inner London Education Authority, from teachers or from parents, about the continuation of part-time education in certain Inner London secondary schools; and what answers he has given.

Mr. Prentice

None from the authority during the current school year and few from others. Part-time schooling in a few London schools arises mainly from a shortage of certain specialist teachers. The increase in London weighting, the payment of allowances to teachers in social priority schools and the general salary improvements following the Houghton Report should ease the situation.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give estimated figures of the extent of the present shortage of specialist teachers in Inner London secondary schools; and when he expects these shortages to be sufficiently overcome to allow a return to full-time education at all Inner London secondary schools.

Mr. Prentice

The ILEA is currently advertising for about 80 specialist teachers mainly of craft, home economics, mathematics and science. Recent salary improvements and Press advertising by my Department may improve the supply nationally, but it is not possible to say when the needs of all ILEA schools will be met. Since some schools now offering

Candidates through UCCA Total entrants
Academic year Men Women Men Women
1972–73 … … … 7,985 3,192 2,344 1,122
1973–74 … … … 9,141 3,774 2,309 1,107
1974–75 (provisional) … … 9,101 3,902 2,253 1,162

All universities participate fully in the UCCA scheme except the universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Strathclyde which may receive direct applications from United Kingdom candidates who are not also applying to other institutions in the scheme.