HL Deb 18 February 1998 vol 586 cc44-5WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they intend to take in the light of the observations of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, contained in his fourth report, published on 3 February 1998, concerning:

  1. (a) the 13,000 teachers staffing classrooms who are incompetent; and
  2. (b) the one in eight lessons which are less than satisfactory. [HL602]

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)

In his annual report for 1996–97, HM Chief Inspector of Schools in England did not focus on the issue of teacher incompetence. He emphasised that more teachers were teaching more effectively.

In the Excellence in schools White Paper, the Government confirmed their view that good teaching is the key to high standards. The Government have introduced rigorous new standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status, which all trainees will be required to meet from May in order to gain entry to the profession. We recognise the importance of investment in in-service training for teachers in order to raise standards and have increased funding significantly. We recently announced plans to improve the arrangements for teacher appraisal by linking it more closely to raising standards of pupil achievement.

These measures, combined with the many other aspects of the Government's drive to raise school standards, should ensure that in future even more teachers will be teaching more effectively.