HC Deb 05 February 2002 vol 379 cc883-4W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the funding for the graduate teacher scheme has been allocated; how many places are being provided on the scheme; and how many people have applied for the scheme. [32636]

Mr. Timms

For information on how graduate teacher programme places are allocated, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 16 January 2002,Official Report, column 290W.

In 2000–01, there were 1,507 new entrants to the graduate teacher programme. In 2001–02, 2,250 fully funded places are available. These attract grants of up to £4,000 towards training costs and of up to £13,000 towards the trainee's salary costs. In addition to that, over 1,000 places with funding of up to £4,000 each are being offered this year to schools willing to meet trainees' salary costs from their own budgets. In the current academic year to date, the Teacher Training Agency has received a total of 3,307 applications for places on the graduate teacher programme, 2,350 of which have been approved.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when schools were given details of the number of places on the graduate teacher scheme. [32637]

Mr. Timms

The Teacher Training Agency informs schools of the likely number of graduate teacher programme places that will be available in each of the three annual allocations rounds approximately six weeks before the deadline for submission of applications.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the number of teachers taken on by schools who have not received funding under the graduate teacher scheme. [32639]

Mr. Timms

Information on the number of unqualified teachers whose schools are not receiving funding under the graduate teacher programme is not collected centrally. There is no requirement that schools should appoint prospective trainees before receiving confirmation that a place on the programme will he offered.