§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recently announced supergrades for teachers will be filled by existing teachers. [62908]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAll Advanced Skills Teacher posts will be filled by serving teachers, because candidates need to be assessed in their present teaching posts. Advanced Skills Teacher posts may be filled by internal candidates, or by external candidates further to advertisement of posts. Both routes are lawful, although my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would prefer Advanced Skills Teacher posts to be advertised in order to maximise the field of candidates.