HC Deb 31 January 1989 vol 146 c162W
17. Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the recruitment of science teachers.

Mr. Butcher

Recruitment to secondary science teacher training courses has increased by 9 per cent. since the launch in 1986 of our action programme on teacher supply. We shall continue and reinforce our action programme to ensure that we have the science teachers we need in the 1990s.

37. Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to increase the number of science teachers in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butcher

We project no particular problems with the supply of primary teachers. Most teaching in primary schools is carried out by the class teacher. The Government are already supporting in-service training for primary teachers through the LEA training grants scheme, and the provision of advisory staff through education support grants. Both of these schemes are providing primary teachers with extra subject expertise and support in science.

57. Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to increase the number of science teachers in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butcher

We have had in place for over two years an action programme to increase the number of science teachers in secondary schools. This includes a £1,300 bursary for those undertaking initial teacher training in physics, an energetic teacher teacher recruitment publicity campaign spearheaded by the teaching as a career unit and new courses of initial teacher training. My right hon. Friend has just announced that the bursary will be extended to chemistry in September.