§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from LEAs on the level of teacher recruitment. [143936]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisI receive regular formal and informal representations from LEAs on this subject. In recent weeks, many of them have welcomed the fact that there are 2,250 more trainee teachers now than at the same time in 2000, after recruitment to initial teacher training had fallen each year since 1992–93. They are pleased that there are nearly 7,000 more teachers in post than in 1998. LEAs have also welcomed the funding for local recruitment strategy managers, the doubling in size of the graduate teacher programme, and the support for returner courses for graduate teachers wishing to re-enter the profession in London. We talk regularly to LEAs, especially in the south-east, about recruitment issues, and when help is requested we provide it.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the communications sent from his Department to(a) local education authorities and (b) schools in the last two months on teacher recruitment and teacher supply. [143938]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe only general communication on this subject was sent by David Normington, Director General of my Department's schools directorate, to all chief education officers on 23 November 2000. No such communications have been sent to schools.