§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the case for expanding teacher training from 1986 onwards; and what response he has made.
§ Mr. DunnThe advisory committee on the supply and education of teachers have recently submitted advice on future intakes to initial teacher training which recommends increases of some 49 per cent, and 9 per cent, in admissions to initial training courses for primary teachers and secondary teachers respectively in the period between 1986 and 1989. This advice is currently under consideration by my right hon. Friend, with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. Decisions on the level of intakes to initial teacher training for 1986 and beyond will be announced as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the output of teacher training institutions between 1986 and 1990 as compared with the anticipated needs of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.
§ Mr. DunnIf intakes to initial teacher training in England and Wales were to continue at the level planned for 1985, it is forecast that the effective output of newly-trained primary teachers in 1986 and 1990 would be some 5,200 and 6,100 respectively. The corresponding estimates for secondary teachers are 7,000 and 6,800 respectively. Estimates of the future staffing needs of schools depend on a number of factors, including forecasts of pupil numbers, the ratio of pupils to teachers and assumptions made about the deployment of the teacher force. Recent advice from the advisory committee on the supply and education of teachers suggests that the demand for new entrant primary teachers will be higher than the forecast output for the coming years if staffing is to be provided at a level which the committee judges necessary for the effective support of the Government's education policies. The demand for new entrant secondary teachers is estimated by the committee at below the forecast output for 1986 but at about the same level for 1990. My right hon. Friend, with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will take this advice into account in determining the level of intakes to initial teacher training for 1986 and beyond.