HC Deb 27 June 2002 vol 387 cc1041-4W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to ensure all schools in England and Wales have sufficient teachers for the beginning of the new academic year. [64524]

Mr. Miliband

Schools are the employers and have primary responsibility for recruitment. Since 1997 the Government have introduced a series of measures to increase the number of teachers available to schools. They include measures to stimulate recruitment to initial teacher training, such as Training Salaries and "Golden Hellos"; a major boost to the Graduate Teacher programme for experienced entrants; a funded strategy for teachers' continuing professional development; extra pay flexibilities to allow schools to reward staff with scarce skills; extra support on behaviour management in the classroom; and funding for local Recruitment Strategy Managers within local education authorities. There were 9,400 more teachers in our schools in January 2002 than in January 2001—the biggest year-on-year rise for 20 years. There were also 26,700 more support staff in schools, and a 5 per cent. increase in the numbers of people starting initial teacher training courses.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have failed the(a) numeracy and (b) literacy skills tests prior to entering teaching in each year since tests were introduced. [64558]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 26 June 2002]: The 1999–2000 teacher training cohort was the first to take a paper-based numeracy skills test. Following the first opportunities to take the test, 852 individuals had still to pass. Individuals had unlimited opportunities to pass the test throughout their induction period.

The 2000–01 teacher training cohort took the computerised literacy and numeracy tests. As at 5 September 2001, 355 had still to pass either the numeracy or literacy skills tests. These individuals could enter teaching as unqualified teachers for up to five years and continue to have unlimited opportunities to pass the tests.

The majority who fail the tests decide to re-sit. Figures are not available for this year as students are still taking the tests.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to ensure that children in England and Wales are taught by teachers with the relevant subject qualifications. [64557]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 26 June 2002]: It is for schools, as employers, to employ the best available qualified people to teach their pupils and to deploy them appropriately. Preparations are in hand for a Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey which will collect information on teachers' subject qualifications.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in England are being taught at(a) KS3 and (b) KS4 by teachers who do not have a qualification relevant to the subject being taught. [64556]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 26 June 2002]: The percentage of lessons taught by full-time teachers at November 1996 that were taught by a teacher with no post A-level qualification in that subject were as follows, by subject:

Percentages of periods
Subject KS3 KS4
Mathematics 11 8
English 14 8
Biology1 17 9
Chemistry1 6 1
Physics1 7 3
General Science1 5 4
Other Sciences 79 63
French 11 9
German 20 15
Spanish 28 27
Percentages of periods
Subject KS3 KS4
Other Modern Languages 76 49
Design and Technology2 35 27
Information Technology2 65 56
Combined Technology2 34 31
Home Economics 20 16
Business Studies 25 33
Classics 25 12
History 17 6
Religious Education 24 20
Geography 15 8
Other Social Studies 58 44
Combined Arts/Humanities/Social Studies 84 78
Music 4 1
Drama 36 26
Art 7 5
Physical Education 5 6
Careers Education 92 88
Personal and Social Education 96 95
General Studies 13 99
Total3,4 20 16
1Teachers qualified in general science are treated as qualified to teach biology, chemistry, or physics. Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry or physics are treated as qualified to teach general science.
2Teachers qualified in other technology are treated as qualified to teach design and technology or information technology. Teachers qualified in design and technology or information technology are treated as qualified to teach combined technology.
3Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching.
4'Other' not included in total percentages.

Note:

This is the most recent available information.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individual students who failed(a) numeracy and (b) literacy skills tests for entering into teaching have not re-applied to take the tests. [64555]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 26 June 2002]: 79 individuals in the 2000–01 cohort who failed (a) numeracy or (b) literacy skills tests for entry into teaching have not re-applied to take the test(s).

The majority of those who fail decide to re-sit the tests. Figures are not available for this year as students are still taking the tests.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list average salary for(a) primary teachers, (b) secondary teachers, (c) graduates in all other sectors and (d) all employees in each year since 1974. [64373]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 26 June 2002]: Average salaries for full-time teachers, for others in employment with a degree or above and for all full-time employees is shown in the following table.

Full-time teachers1
Nursery and primary Secondary Employees with a degree or better2 All employees3
1974 2,120 2,390 4 2,170
1975 3,220 3,550 4 2,820
1976 3,790 4,110 4 3,350
1977 4,180 4,460 4 3,660
1978 4,410 4,680 4 4,120
1979 4,900 5,180 4 4,670
1980 5,920 6,220 4 5,750
1981 7,430 7,790 4 6,510
1982 8,090 8,460 4 7,120
Full-time teachers1
Nursery and primary Secondary Employees with a degree or better2 All employees3
19833 8,670 9,050 4 7,730
19833 7,690
1984 9,160 9,580 4 8,310
1985 9,660 10,160 4 8,920
1986 10,490 11,120 4 9,630
1987 11,970 12,740 4 10,370
1988 12,920 13,780 4 11,390
1989 13,850 14,830 4 12,500
1990 14.500 16,020 4 13,720
1991 16,490 17,720 4 14,850
1992 18,450 19,950 4 15,880
1993 19,970 21,470 4 16,520
1994 20,280 21,630 23,570 16,980
1995 20,860 22,200 23,880 17,540
1996 21,370 22,730 26,280 18,340
1997 22,080 23,480 26,910 19,170
1998 22,700 24,130 27,320 20,050
1999 523,570 525,060 28,890 20,860
2000 524,390 525,930 30,090 521,880
2001 626,143 627,917 30,660 23,170
1Average salary of full-time teachers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools sector of England and Wales at 31 March of each year 1974 to 2001. Figures cover all grades and include any allowances paid. Figures up to 1993 include sixth form colleges. The 2001 salary figures include those threshold pay increases that were made before March 2001. However, they do not include threshold pay increases relating to people who passed the threshold in September 2000 and had not received their payment by March 2001. This money was backdated after March 2001 and therefore the average salary for March 2001 will be understated. The estimated average salary in March 2001 for primary and secondary schools combined, including all threshold pay increases, is £27,800. Source: DfES Database of Teacher Records.
2Average salary of those in full-time employment in the UK with a degree or better qualification, in the spring of years shown. Excludes teachers with such qualifications. Source: Labour Force Survey (as the New Earnings Survey does not include qualifications data). Gross weekly and hourly earnings data are known to be underestimated in the LFS. Earnings data is based on information from about two-fifths of all respondents. Respondents with hourly pay greater than £100 are excluded.
3Average salary of those in full-time employment in GB whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence, at April of each year. Figures from 1974 to first row for 1983 are compiled on the basis of men aged 21+ and women aged 18+. Figures for second 1983 row and onwards are compiled on the basis of employees on adult rates. Figures for 1997 and 1998 include late receipts. Source: New Earnings Survey.
4Not available.
5Revised.
6Provisional.