HC Deb 12 May 1975 vol 892 cc30-1W
Dr. Hampson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report all official estimates, with source and date, that have been made since 1968 of the number of teacher training places that would be necessary in 1980–81.

Mr. Prentice

The following estimates have been made of the number of teacher training places, outside the universities, that would be necessary in 1981. The change arises mainly from revised demographic forecasts.

  1. (a) 75,000–85,000 places. ("Education: A Framework for Expansion", Cmnd. 5174--December 1972);
  2. (b) About 60,000 places. (Parliamentary reply on 20th March 1975 to the hon. Member for Luton East (Mr. Clemitson)).—{Vol. 888, c. 471–2.]

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice was given to him by the Advisory Committee on the supply and training of teachers; and how this differs from calculations on teacher training made within his Department.

Mr. Prentice

The Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers advised meinter alia in February that the Government should plan for a teacher training system of at least 60,000 places in 1981, but criticised the Department's suggested composition of this figure from various categories of students. In particular it felt that the annual intake of non-graduate students should not be allowed to fall below 15,000 as compared with 12,000 suggested by the Department and postulated in section H of Reports on Education No. 82. The committee said that it would give further consideration to the question and keep it under review. A decision on this will not be required until 1977.