§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the current staffing arrangements under the Burnham further education regulations are adequate to provide education for students with special educational needs; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenMy right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that the arrangements are inadequate. The allocation of teachers to particular categories of student is a matter for local discretion. The percentage of posts on each grade in a college is determined under the Burnham arrangements on the basis of the academic level of teaching. LEAs have discretion within fixed limits to increase the proportion of lecturers grade II where requisite for the recruitment and retention of teachers in shortage subjects.
The grading of courses system is under review as part of further education reform talks. The Government's view is that the structure should be flexible and responsive to the needs of customers and students.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been received by his Department in respect of the Burnham further education regulations as they affect provision for students with special educational needs.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Department received on 20 January a paper from the National Bureau for Handicapped Students about this matter. A reply issued on 31 January noting that the paper had also been submitted to the joint secretaries of the Burnham Further Education Committee and that it was a matter for negotiation in that committee.