§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of state for Education and Science what procedures are followed in 214W granting probationary teachers fully qualified status what is the average cost per teacher of this process; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnNew teachers are awarded fully qualified status on recognition by my right hon. Friend. They gain no additinal status by passing probation, but if they fail they are declared unsuitable to teach as qualified teachers. The induction, support and guidance of probationary teachers are the responsibility of local education authorities first employing them. The final decision that a new teacher should not have his probation confirmed rests with my right hon. Friend and in 1983 the Department issued an administrative memorandum (AM 1/83) containing a code of guidance on the handling of probationary teachers. Details of the costs of induction, support and assessment of probationary teachers are not available.