§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students were recruited to courses of initial teacher training in 1992.
§ Mr. PattenOverall recruitment to initial teacher training courses has increased by more than 10 per cent. for the second year in succession. A survey undertaken by my Department shows that 31,980 students entered courses of initial teacher training in 1992, an increase of 3,188 over 1991.
Intakes to secondary courses overall were 9 per cent. above the very high levels achieved last year, and recruitment in all the main shortage subjects was above the targets set by the Department. Recruitment to primary courses was 13 per cent. higher than last year and 41 per cent. above the Department's target.
I am placing in the Library the principal results of the survey.