§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy with regard to the training and up-dating of head teachers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnThe Government's policy was set out in the White Paper "Teaching Quality" (Cmnd. 8836) in March 1983. Paragraphs 83 and 87 indicate that the Government attach particular importance to in-service training for head teachers and senior staff in schools. Paragraph 87 goes on to outline the Government's initiative to extend and improve current provision.
§ Mr. D. E Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 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. DunnLocal education authorities, as the employers of most head teachers, have the primary responsibility to arrange appropriate programmes of in-service training, drawing upon courses provided by institutions of higher education and contributions from industry and commerce as they see fit. The Government provide funds to assist LEAs in facilitating in-service training both through the rate support grant and through the mechanisms for providing institutions of higher education with recurrent grant. The Department is not able to identify separately what proportion of these funds is devoted to the training of head teachers.
404WThe Government provide LEAs and training institutions with additional resources specifically for the management training of head teachers and other senior staff in schools, as follows:
- (i) Management training is one of the four in-service priority areas currently supported by the in-service teacher training grants scheme in England. Under the scheme, LEAs may claim grant towards the salary cost of releasing head teachers and senior staff to designated management training opportunities. The scheme envisages that about £2 million will be avaiable to English LEAs for management training up to August 1984. My right hon. Friend has already announced that the total grant available under the scheme in the academic year 1984–85 will be about £10 million, an increase of about £4 million over 1983–84. No decision has been announced on the allocation of funds between eligible priority areas in the academic year 1984–85 or beyond.
- (ii) The Government have made £50,000 available in each of the financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85 through the DES/regional course programme to promote 20 day basic management courses. No decisions have been taken in respect of the financial year 1985–86.
- (iii) The Government are also funding the national development centre for school management training, based in Bristol, for 3 three years, 1983–86, at an annual cost of approximately £125,000. The main aim of the centre is to improve the effectiveness of management training for head teachers and senior staff in maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England and Wales.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what head teacher training programmes have received approval by his Department since October 1983; and what programmes are currently under consideration.
§ Mr. DunnAll of the courses for the training of head teachers approved by my right hon. Friend for the purposes of the Education (Schools and Further Education) Regulations 1981 since 1 October 1983 are 20 day basic management courses, provided at the following institutions:
- University of Bristol
- Bulmershe college of higher education
- University of Exeter
- Mid-Kent college of further and higher education
- University of London Institute of Education
- University of Nottingham
- Rolle college
- University of Sussex
- University of Warwick
Currently under consideration are proposals for 20 day basic management courses from the following institutions:
- City of Birmingham polytechnic
- Cambridge Institute of Education
- Charlotte Mason college of education
- Crewe and Alsager college of higher education
- Doncaster metropolitan institute of higher education
- University of Durham
- Kingston polytechnic
- Wolverhampton polytechnic
Other courses for the training of headteachers currently under consideration are:
- Charlotte Mason college of higher education; one year part-time course on secondary school management.
- National development centre for school management training (Bristol); one term training opportunity.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what locations have been designated by his Department for head teacher training 405W development; and what funding has been available for each location in each financial year since the programmes commenced.
§ Mr. DunnAs a part of the initiative on management training outlined in the White Paper "Teaching Quality" (Cmnd. 8836), the Government are funding the national development centre for school management training, based in Bristol. The main aim of the centre is to improve the effectiveness of management training for headteachers and senior staff in maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England and Wales. The centre is funded for three years 1983–86, at an annual cost of approximately £125,000. A certain amount of development work is undertaken by higher education institutions providing management training.