HC Deb 31 July 1975 vol 896 cc612-3W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when part-time education in Newham first started, and for what reasons this has occurred;

(2) whether he will give details of the shortfall of daily education to pupils in the London borough of Newham; what the weekly or daily loss of full-time education for pupils amounts to; how many pupils have been affected by this since this scheme first started; and what has been their loss in hours or weeks of education, actually or on average basis.

Miss Joan Lestor

Part-time education was introduced in 15 primary schools and 15 secondary schools in Newham on 23rd November 1973 as a result of industrial action by teachers. This action was discontinued on 1st October 1974 following the decision to increase London area payments, but part-time education was continued at some secondary schools because of the shortage of certain specialist teachers.

It was the local education authority's policy to ensure that, in view of their preparations for public examinations, fifth form pupils in secondary schools should not be affected at all; but otherwise to spread the effects as widely and evenly as possible. During the period ending in September 1974 a total of 70,589 primary and secondary pupil hours was lost. Thereafter the number of pupils affected ranged between 4,495 in seven secondary schools in January 1975 to 4,005 in six secondary schools in June: the amount of time lost varied from one lesson to half a day per week, but alternatives were offered in many cases.

The authority plans to return to a full five day timetable for all pupils from the start of the autumn term.