Teacher Vacancies (Hansard, 19 October 2001)

§ Mr. Damian Green
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have approached the Government with difficulties over filling teacher vacancies(a) this year and (b) since July. [8896]

§ Mr. Timms
We do not keep detailed records on this, but the number of schools would be very small. Schools are advised to discuss any serious vacancy-filling difficulties with their local education authority, who will offer them all the help they can.
1392W

§ Mr. Damian Green
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost was of the support given by the Government in the last year to schools which had difficulties with teacher vacancies. [8897]

§ Mr. Timms
Information on what proportion of their recurrent funding individual schools decide to spend on teacher recruitment and retention is not collected centrally. Average funding per pupil now stands as £3,250, £540 higher in real terms than in 1997–98.
A small proportion of Government funding (for example, through the Teacher Retention and Recruitment Fund) is targeted at local authorities with high teacher vacancy rates.