HC Deb 20 February 1984 vol 54 cc394-5W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what head teacher training programmes have received approval by his Department since October 1983; and what programmes are currently under consideration.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Since October 1983 the following courses have been approved:

South Glamorgan LEA Management for senior staff in secondary schools
University college, Cardiff/Poltechnic of Wales/Open university Management training for head teacher and senior staff and secondary schools

Both these courses are included in the in-service teacher training grants scheme provided under the Education (Grant for Teacher Training) Regulations 1983. A proposal from Gwent college of higher education for a course of management training for head teachers and senior staff in primary schools is under consideration.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what locations have been designated by his Department for head teacher training development; and what funding has been made available for each location in each financial year since the programmes commenced.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Courses of management training for head teachers and senior staff, each located in more than one centre in the counties concerned, have been approved under the in-service teacher training grants scheme in Clywd, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan. The funding of these courses is the responsibility of the providing authority or college. The cost of replacing head teachers attending these courses is eligible for grant aid under the scheme.

In addition, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Education and Science have jointly designated a national development centre for school management training for England and Wales at Bristol.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what resources have been designated by his Department in each financial year since 1974 for the training and up-dating of head teachers; and how much has been spent in each year and is projected to be spent in the financial years 1984–85 and 1985–86.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

No resources were designated by Welsh Office expressly for head teacher training and development between 1974 and April 1983 when the in-service teacher training grant scheme was introduced under the Education (Grants for Teacher Training) Regulations 1983. The total allocation in grant to Welsh authorities under this scheme in 1983–84 was £0.27 million to be devoted to the following 5 priority areas:

  1. a. Management training for heads and other senior teachers in primary and secondary schools.
  2. b. Mathematics teaching.
  3. c. Special educational needs in ordinary schools.
  4. d. Pre-vocational education in schools.
  5. e. Welsh language teaching.

It is not yet known how much has been spent in the first financial year of the scheme, but we expect a substantial proportion to have been used for management training for head teachers. Authorities have not been restricted to a formal breakdown of their allocation but expenditure is being monitored to ensure that an appropriate share of the resources is being dedicated to head teacher training. For 1984–85 £0.4 million has been allocated to the scheme. We intend to maintain a comparable level of grant in 1985–86.

We are also contributing £8,000 in 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87 towards the national development centre at Bristol. The regional in-service teacher training committees in Wales, based on the four university departments of education are also being encouraged to apply some of the resources the Welsh Office makes available to them towards head teacher management training.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy with regard to the training and updating of head teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The Government's policy on teacher training is set out in the White Paper "Teaching Quality" (Cmnd 8836) published in March 1983. Paragraphs 83 and 87 refer particularly to the training and up-dating of head teachers.