§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students entered courses of initial teacher training in England and Wales in 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerAbout 19,160 students entered courses of initial teacher training in 1987, an increase of some 2,271 over 1986. Recruitment to primary training has exceeded target by 3 per cent; and intakes to secondary training are 14 per cent. higher than last year.
I particularly welcome the major increases in recruitment to courses in the key subjects of mathematics, craft, design and technology, and physics. Intakes to mathematics and CDT courses are some 33 per cent. higher than last year; recruitment to physics courses has increased by some 50 per cent; and in all these subjects recruitment is much closer to targets, which themselves have increased.
I am placing in the Library the principal findings of my Department's survey of this year's recruitment.