§ Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students were recruited to courses of initial teacher training in 1993–94.
§ Mr. Robin SquireA survey undertaken by my Department shows that 29,266 students entered courses of initial teacher training in universities and colleges in England this autumn, some 5 per cent. above target. I have placed a copy of the survey report in the Library.
Compared to 1992–93, recruitment to primary ITT courses fell by 5 per cent., to 15,775, and recruitment to secondary courses increased by 5 per cent., to 13,491. These figures reflect the pattern of intake targets for 1993–94 adopted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England—HEFCE—at the request of the Secretary of State.
Of the main secondary shortage subjects, mathematics increased recruitment by 4 per cent. to 1,769, science by 859W 10 per cent. to 2,373 and modern languages by 13 per cent. to 1,542. English, religious education and music also increased recruitment, but technology fell by 7 per cent. to 2,057.
The survey did not cover distance learning PGCE courses at the Open university and ITT courses by consortia of schools and city technology colleges, which are being run for the first time this academic year. These courses are expected to recruit 1,220 and 220 students respectively, including 115 in technology under the CTC trust's smallpiece programme.
Taken together, this means that overall intakes for each of the secondary shortage subjects—mathematics, science, modern languages and technology—are higher this academic year than in 1992–93.