§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average period that has elapsed between the inspection of a school by Her Majesty's Inspectorate and the publication of its report since 1983; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Keith JosephSince 1 January 1983, there have been 402 published reports by Her Majesty's Inspectorate on individual primary and secondary schools on the basis of formal inspections. The average time between inspection and publication has been nine months, although Her Majesty's Inspectorate does discuss its findings with the head and governing body of the school on the completion of each inspection. It remains the aim of Her Majesty's Inspectorate, as set out in the 1983 policy statement "The work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate in England and Wales" that reports be issued to individual institutions within six months of an inspection. In addition to carrying out formal inspections, Her Majesty's Inspectorate makes a large number of specialist and routine visits each year to keep in touch with the situation in particular institutions. Her Majesty's Inspectorate reports orally to the staff concerned on what it finds, but these visits do not lead to published reports. In 1985 Her Majesty's Inspectorate visited some 15 per cent. of primary schools and nearly 60 per cent. of secondary schools in England.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools employed in England for each of the last five years.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe information is as follows:
(At 1 April) Number 1982 392 1983 382 1984 390 1985 454 1986 *464 * Forecast.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the number of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in England who have had (a) no experience of teaching in primary schools, (b) up to three years teaching experience in primary schools, (c) three to six years teaching in primary schools and (d) more than six years teaching in primary schools;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the number of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in England who have had (a) no experience of teaching in secondary schools, (b) up to three years teaching experience in secondary schools, (c) three to six years teaching in secondary schools and (d) more than six years teaching in secondary schools;
(3) if any of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in England have had no experience of teaching in schools.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe overwhelming majority of Her Majesty's inspectors are appointed on the basis of proven success as teachers in schools or establishments of further or higher education. As Her Majesty's inspectors are appointed in mid-career, many have taught successfully in a number of different phases of the education service. In 327W exceptional cases, Her Majesty's inspectors with a non-teaching background may be appointed on the basis of experience in other aspects of education which the inspectorate considers necessary to have within its numbers. The Department does not maintain in readily accessible form records of all the previous employment of Her Majesty's inspectors. The detailed information requested could thus only be provided at disproportionate cost.