§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed in Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in Wales; and what increase or decrease is being proposed.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe number of HMI currently employed in Wales is 59. Until my right hon. Friend has completed his consideration of the future role and structure of HMI in Wales, I am not in a position to say whether there will be any change in numbers. We hope to announce our conclusions shortly.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations have been held with local education authorities and parents about the proposed changes to Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools in Wales;
(2) whether he will list those organisations in Wales which have advocated the proposed changed role and status of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsIn May this year my right hon. Friend announced his intention to conduct a review of the role and structure of HMI in Wales. That review has involved work by an external consultant who, in addition to inviting written evidence from teachers' unions, held discussions with head teachers, principals of colleges, a number of directors of education and local authority advisers, representatives of other interested organisations and the committee and officers of the HMI association.
The Education (Schools) Bill now before the House makes provision for a new statutory post of Her Majesty's 406W chief inspector—HMCI—of schools for Wales to oversee arrangements for the new system of regular school inspections referred to in "Education: A Charter for Parents in Wales" which was published at the end of September. The HMCI will also be charged with providing advice to my right hon. Friend on the quality of education provided by schools in Wales and the educational standards achieved by them.
My right hon. Friend has not yet taken decisions on other aspects of HMI's current function in Wales, to which the report by the external consultant is relevant. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce his conclusions shortly.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet Her Majesty's inspector of schools in Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsMy right hon. Friend and I meet the chief inspector as appropriate to discuss aspects of his work and the work of his staff.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the number of local education authority inspectors/advisers employed by each of the authorities in Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThis information is not normally collected centrally. However, I understand that the numbers are as follows:
Authority Number advisers/inspectors Powys 16 South Glamorgan 24 Mid Glamorgan 29 West Glamorgan 22 Dyfed 22 Gwent 30 Gwynedd 19 Clwyd 20 TOTAL 182