§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he plans to take to monitor the standards of sports tuition in schools.
§ Mrs. RumboldPhysical education, of which sport is a component, is a foundation subject in the national curriculum. Programmes of study, attainment targets or guidelines and assessment arrangements will be established as appropriate for PE in due course. The National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council will respectively advise my right hon. Friend on all aspects of the school curriculum and on examinations, assessment and testing in schools. Her Majesty's inspectorate will also continue to monitor standards as part of its programme of visits to and inspections of schools.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he plans to take to encourage teachers to take advantage of the training schemes offered by the various national sporting bodies for teachers and supervisors.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is for LEAs and schools to consider the in-service training needs of their staff, in relation to their resources. The LEA training grant scheme provides specific grant support for a range of national priority areas and for locally determined priorities.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the number of school teachers undertaking the teaching of sports for which they have no specialist qualification.
§ Mrs. RumboldIn January 1984, the latest date for which figures are available for maintained secondary schools in England, there were an estimated 40,500 full and part-time teachers who taught physical education (including sport). Of these teachers, 42 per cent. did not hold a post A-level qualification in the subject, and they were responsible for 12 per cent. of the tuition in physical education.