Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates his Department has made of the additional teachers required in(a) the primary sector and (b) the secondary sector in each local education authority area in Wales to teach each of the foundation and core subjects outlined in the Education (Reform) Bill at present before Parliament.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsIt is too early to make precise estimates. Local education authorities will be expected to plan on the basis of the national curriculum being implemented incrementally over a number of years broadly within the framework of the present planned resources. That framework includes plans for the overall pupil to teacher ratio to continue to fall from its present level to reach 17:1.
Within primary schools where the majority of teachers teach right across the curriculum supply is not expected to be a problem. In secondary schools measures will be necessary and plans are in hand to boost teacher numbers in particular subjects, but an increase in teacher numbers overall may not be necessary.