HC Deb 04 July 2002 vol 388 cc497-8W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were teaching in English schools in each year from 1979–80 to 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [66269]

Mr. Miliband

The numbers of full-time equivalent' teachers in regular service' in the maintained schools sector in England in January of each year since 1980' are in the table:

1Part-time teachers have been converted to an estimate of their full-time equivalence and added to full-time numbers.

2Excludes occasional teachers.

3Teachers in Sixth Form Colleges were included in the survey prior to 1993; these have been removed by estimation to provide this consistent time series excluding Sixth Form Colleges.

Number
1980 444,000
1981 435,000
1982 425,500
1983 419,100
1984 414,900
1985 409,000
1986 404,600
1987 404,900
1988 402,400
1989 397,100
1990 397,600
1991 394,800
1992 394,000
1993 395,900
1994 397,000
1995 399,600
1996 399,800
1997 399,200
1998 397,700
1999 401,200
2000 404,600
2001 410,200
20021 419,600
1 Data for January 2002 are provisional

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to specify a minimum level of non-contact time for teachers who are teaching the core subjects of maths and English; and if she will make a statement. [66274]

Mr. Miliband

Consultation on the recommendations in the School Teachers' Review Body's report on teacher work loads came to an end yesterday. The Department's consultation letter of 8 May said that my right hon. Friend would consult again on practical measures as appropriate in the light of this initial consultation. For the time being the Department is evaluating the initial consultation responses. Further consultation is likely to take place in the early autumn.