Secondary Schools (Staffing) (Hansard, 13 December 1978)

§ Mr. Millan:

My Department will shortly be publishing a statistical bulletin on pupil and teacher numbers which will show that at the September 1978 school census the overall pupil/teacher ratio in education authority secondary schools was 14.5:1.

This is the lowest ratio ever recorded and compares with 14.7: 1 at September 1976 and September 1977. It represents the employment of some 1,500 teachers more than would be required to meet the staffing standards on which policy has been based in recent years—that is, 178W those recommended in the "Red Book ", excluding the probationer allowance.

The unemployment statistics for September show that there were 522 persons registered as unemployed who were seeking teaching posts in secondary schools. There is, therefore, an overall supply of secondary teachers sufficient to maintain staffing standards at a better general level than we have ever before experienced.

Some authorities, notably Strathclyde, are finding difficulty in recruiting enough specialist teachers of certain subjects, particularly business studies, mathematics, music, physics and technical education. I discussed this matter with the education committee of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 8th December. The subjects most affected are those to which the colleges of education at my request have given the highest priority in selecting candidates for admission to teacher training over the last few years; and I understand that the colleges have in fact admitted all suitable applicants with the requisite qualifications. Unfortunately, the numbers coming forward for teacher training in these specialisms have not been sufficient to meet the needs of the schools.

It may be that the publicity given to the employment difficulties encountered by newly qualified teachers, particularly primary teachers, in recent years has given the mistaken impression that employment opportunities throughout the whole of the secondary sector are restricted. I therefore propose to mount an advertising campaign aimed at publicising the continuing need for teacher recruitment in certain subjects, particularly in Strathclyde. I have asked my Department to explore with Stratclyde officials and with the colleges of education in the region any other measures which might be taken to increase the supply of qualified teachers in the subjects concerned.

Over the last few years the allocation of intake quotas to each of the colleges of education has been determined on the basis of the information available to me about the school population in each area and about the colleges from which newly qualified teachers have been recruited by each authority in recent years. It is important, however, that the geographical 179W distribution of intake should so far as possible match the expected future pattern of recruitment. I have therefore asked authorities to provide early estimates of their future staffing needs, so that I can take these into account in considering the arrangements for intake to teacher training courses in session 1979–80.