HC Deb 30 June 1982 vol 26 cc313-4W
Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether arrangements exist to re-employ (a) trained teachers after absence, for example, for bringing up children, and (b) formerly redundant teachers, rather than continuing recruitment of new teachers; and what retraining arrangements exist.

Dr. Boyson

Local education authorities and other employers frequently re-engage teachers after a break in service; according to provisional figures 26,200 full-time teachers were appointed to maintain schools in England and Wales in the financial year 1980–81. Of these, 10,400 were re-entrants and 15,800 new entrants. A teacher made redundant may apply for a teaching vacancy on the same terms as any other teacher; but most teachers who have been made redundant have left the service under the early retirement arrangements.

It is for local education authorities to make provision, where appropriate and within available resources, for the further training of teachers who return to their service. Where a teacher wishes to convert to teach a new subject after a break in service, assistance is currently available under the Government's scheme for training and retraining to teach priority subjects.

Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any steps to obviate teacher unemployment; and what assessment he has made of the results of such measures.

Dr. Boyson

Under the Government scheme for training or retraining to teach priority subjects, teachers who have been unable to get a job or whose subject is in surplus may retrain to teach a subject for which there is a continuing demand. Up to summer 1981, 1,600 teachers had successfully completed retraining courses since the scheme was introduced in 1977.

In view of the fall in the demand for new teachers the Government have reduced the intake to courses of postgraduate teacher training in England and Wales this autumn by 20 per cent. My right hon. Friend is now considering advice from the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Education of Teachers about intakes to teacher training in 1983, 1984 and 1985.