§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he will take to increase the number of available mathematics teachers. [51041]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe are determined to raise standards in schools, and good quality teachers—in both phases and all subjects—have an essential role to play in helping us achieve our plans. Maintaining teacher supply is a key challenge facing the Government and the education system. We are working with our partners—the Teacher Training Agency, higher education institutions, schools and others—to meet that challenge. Our response of 29 January to the Education and Employment Select Committee set out the measures we have taken to date.
We have already announced that all students studying to achieve a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education will not have to contribute to tuition fees; and 83 per cent. of mathematics training places are on PGCE courses. In addition, the Teacher Training Agency will provide, through the Secondary Shortage Subject Scheme some £12 million in the coming year to support those in need who wish to train to teach in such subjects, including mathematics. The new employment-based routes to qualified teacher status, aimed at enabling more mature candidates to enter teaching, also will help to boost recruitment.