HC Deb 29 June 1988 vol 136 c243W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any evidence of dissatisfaction among(a) heads and (b) other teachers leading to early retirement or transfer to other careers.

Mrs. Rumbold

We have no evidence to suggest that dissatisfaction with their work is leading greater numbers of heads or other teachers to retire early from teaching or to take up other careers. The number of premature retirements each year has not varied substantially over the last five years. Evidence presented to the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions by the local authorities conditions of service advisory board indicate that only a very small proportion of wastage in the teacher force related to teachers leaving to take up other employment—equivalent to about 0.4 per cent. of primary teachers and 1 per cent. of secondary teachers in the financial year 1985–86.