§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which degree subjects are not considered suitable for acceptance on a postgraduate teacher training course for those students wanting to be (a) primary teachers and (b) secondary teachers.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if first degrees in philosophy, sociology or economics will preclude applicants with first degrees in these subjects from consideration for acceptance on postgraduate certificate of education courses for either (a) primary school teaching or (b) secondary school teaching;
(2) which first degree courses are subjects of relevance to (a) the primary curriculum and (b) the secondary curriculum; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Keith JosephI am concerned to match the quality and supply of newly trained teachers as closely as possible to the needs of the schools. Consequently initial teacher training establishments have been asked to ensure that all recruits have good degrees in the main subjects of the curriculum as well as being, in other respects, suitable as teachers. The content of degrees varies even when the titles are identical and therefore it is a matter for each establishment to decide, within the broad guidance given, whether or not a particular graduate should or should not be accepted. In seeking to interpret this broad guidance university departments of education and other establishments involved in initial teacher training will, no doubt, be guided by the findings of "Aspects of Secondary Education in England: A Survey by H.M. Inspectorate" and "Primary Education in England: A Survey by H.M. Inspectorate", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.