§ 6. Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision she has made, and what guidance she has given, for those who, were it not for the cut-back in teacher training places, would have wished to become teachers.
§ Mr. OakesThe Government have made provision for increased numbers of students on other courses in higher and further education which will more than offset the reduction in teacher training places. Advice on post-school courses is available to school-leavers through my Department's series of information sheets entitled "Choose your Course". These leaflets point out that girls as well as boys have a wide career choice ahead of them.
§ 39. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the total reduction of teacher training places in the Northern Region since 1974 will have been when her programme of college closures is completed; and whether she will make a statement on the impact of these closures on the imbalance in higher education places between the regions of England.
§ Mr. OakesThe proposed reduction in teacher training places in the Northern Region is from 8,500 in 1972 to 3,000 in the 1980s. So far as can now be foreseen it is expected that the ratio of higher education places generally to school population in the Northern Region will in the 1980s be rather below the average for other regions in England and Wales, excluding Greater London.
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§ 48. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received on her proposals for future provision of teacher training places in the Greater London area.
§ Mr. OakesThe representations received so far have been for the retention of teacher training at three of the institutions at which it is proposed to discontinue it, and for an increase in the number of places proposed at one other.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what will be the nearest voluntary teacher training college to Newcastle upon Tyne if St. Mary's College, Fenham, is closed;
(2) what will be the nearest Roman Catholic teacher training college to Newcastle upon Tyne if St. Mary's College, Fenham, is closed.
§ Mr. OakesOn the assumption that the College of St. Hild and St. Bede becomes part of Durham University, the nearest voluntary college will be Ripon and York St. John, and the nearest Roman Catholic college Trinity and All Saints' Colleges, Leeds.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she took into account the effect that her formula for allocating teacher training places for 1981 might have in relating sixth form stay-on rates to teacher training places and thus on areas like Newcastle upon Tyne with low stay-on rates which may be allocated small numbers of teacher training places.
§ Mr. OakesMy right hon. Friend's proposals are not based on a formula but on a consideration of the part which each teacher training institution might play in a system designed to meet the needs of the schools in the 1980s.
§ Mr. Edgeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is still her policy to encourage monotechnics to merge with other institutions of higher education to provide a wider range of courses.
§ Mr. OakesIt is my right hon. Friend's policy that teacher education should be firmly integrated with other higher education, either by provision in major institu-150W tions with a significant general higher education rôle, or by extending the range of work carried out in former colleges of education. This is discussed at greater length in the paper on restructuring the teacher training system, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give details of the comparative costs of the training of postgraduate students in education, in schools and departments of education, in universities and in other institutions.
§ Mr. OakesI would refer by hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Hodgson) on 1st February.—[Vol. 925, c. 98.] No costings specific to these students are available for colleges of education, polytechnics or other institutions of further education where they constitute only a small proportion of the total student body.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is now able to comment on the report presented to her predecessor some 18 months ago by the Advisory Council for the Supply and Training of Teachers relating to professional education for staff in further education institutions.
§ Mr. OakesMy right hon. Friend is in general sympathy with the recommendations in the report, but has so far been unable in present financial circumstances to commend them for action by local education authorities.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the proposed closure of Shoreditch College, Englefield Green, Surrey, by the Inner London Education Authority is in line with Government policy, as set out in the DES Press Notice, 24th January 1977, "Proposals for Future of Teacher Training System", wherein provision was made for the continuation of Shoreditch
§ Mr. OakesMy right hon. Friend proposed—24th January—that further con sideration should be given to the organisation of teacher education in five Inner London Education Authority institutions, including Shoreditch College, within a total provision of 2,000 places.—[Vol. 151W 924, c. 978–979 and 981–982.]—This does not exclude the possibility that teacher training should cease at one or more of these institutions. My right hon. Friend has not yet received formal proposals from the authority.