HC Deb 04 February 1987 vol 109 cc665-6W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest figure for the total number of people employed as teachers of the deaf; if he will analyse what proportion of these admitted into training courses for teaching the deaf come from (a) certified teachers with experience in teaching, (b) qualified teachers direct from college or university, (c) non-certified graduates, (d) undergraduates and (e) other; what effect he estimates the implementation of the White Paper, "Better Schools", would have on the numbers of teachers of the deaf being trained; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

[pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1987, c. 11]: Information is not collected in the form requested by the hon. Member. The available information is as follows. On 31 March 1985, 783 full-time teachers were employed at maintained and direct grant special schools who were qualified under the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1982 to be teachers of classes for deaf or partially hearing pupils. The number of those who were actually teaching such classes is not available. Four hundred and seventeen of these are known to have obtained specialist qualifications through in-service teacher training, 85 through initial teacher training, and 232 through other routes (primarily through the National College of Teachers of the Deaf).

On the same date 500 full-time teachers who were recognised as qualified teachers for the deaf or partially hearing pupils were teaching for at least part of their time in special classes for the partially hearing or partially sighted in other maintained schools. Three hundred and forty four of these are known to have obtained specialist qualifications through in-service training, 51 through initial training and 83 through other routes. In September 1986, 17 students were admitted to postgraduate initial teacher training and 22 to undergraduate initial teacher training courses leading to specialist qualification in teaching classes of deaf pupils.

The policy outlined in the White Paper, "Better Schools" will be implemented with the aim of maintaining the supply of teachers qualified to be employed as the teacher of a class for deaf or partially hearing pupils.