Teacher Retention (Hansard, 31 March 2003)

§ Mr. Fabian Hamilton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers stopped teaching in each of the last 10 years for reasons other than retirement; and what the average length of service of such teachers was in each of those years. [105540]

§ Mr. Miliband
Table 1 shows the number of teachers leaving^1,2 full-time or part-time³ service in the maintained schools sector in England who did not enter retirement, by age at the end of the financial year in which they left service, for 1990–91 to 2000–01.
Table 2 shows the average length of service of these teachers at the end of the financial year in which they left service, by age at the end of that year, for 1993–94⁴ to 2000–01.
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Table 2—Average length of service ( years) of those leaving service by age at 31 March

0–25 25–30 30–35 35–40 40–45 45–50 50–55 55–60 Total⁵

1994 1.2 3.0 5.9 9.1 11.5 13.9 15.9 17.9 9.8

1995 1.3 3.1 5.8 9.1 11.8 14.1 15.9 18.6 9.8

1996 1.2 3.0 5.7 8.7 11.2 14.1 15.9 18.5 9.5

1997 1.3 3.0 5.8 8.7 11.5 14.5 16.2 20.2 9.7

1998 1.2 3.0 5.8 8.5 11.7 15.1 16.9 19.1 10.0

1999 1.2 3.0 5.7 8.4 11.8 15.4 17.7 20.7 10.3

2000 1.3 3.0 5.7 8.4 11.6 15.4 18.2 21.7 10.7

2001 1.2 3.1 5.9 8.7 11.5 15.8 19.6 22.8 11.4

¹ Leavers are those qualified regular teachers who were in full-time or part-time service in the maintained schools sector in England at 31 March of the previous year, who were not in service in that sector and had not entered retirement at 31 March of the year shown.

² The information is from Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) returns. The scheme covers the maintained schools sector plus some of the independent, further education and higher education sectors. Teachers shown as leaving regular service in the maintained sector in England may have moved to: other service that is recorded on the scheme, e.g. service in some independent schools or service in Wales; service that is not recorded, for example higher education establishments that are not in the TPS, these will appear to have left teaching service. Some leavers will be taking career breaks and will return to service at a later date.

³ Around 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. of part-timers may not be included.

⁴ Length of service information is not available for years 1990–91 to 1992–93.

⁵ Teachers leaving service at the age of 60 or over who are not recorded as entering retirement have not been included in Table 1, since teachers who leave the scheme after the retirement age of 60 automatically qualify for retirement benefits. However, such teachers have been included in the 'Total' average length of service calculation in Table 2.

§ Mr. Fabian Hamilton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were granted early retirement on the grounds of ill health in each year since 1998. [105541]

§ Mr. Miliband
Ill health retirements from the maintained schools sector in England are shown in

Table 44: Retirements—Retirements from the maintained schools sector¹: Type of award and sex by year of award: England

Premature² Age Ill-health³ Total

Financial year (1 April to 31 March) Men Women Men and Women Men Women Men and Women Men Women Men and Women Men Women Men and Women

1989–90 3,220 4,840 8,060 960 2,550 3,500 1,270 2,310 3,580 5,440 9,700 15,140

1990–91 3,000 4,740 7,740 890 2,610 3,500 1,420 2,860 4,280 5,310 10,210 15,520

1991–92 2,470 4,070 6,530 810 2,360 3,170 1.390 2,640 4,030 4,660 9,070 13,730

1992–93 2,760 4,400 7,170 750 2,560 3,310 1.440 2,610 4,050 4,950 9,580 14,530

1993–94 3,180 4,860 8,030 850 2,580 3,430 1,840 2,990 4,820 5,860 10,420 16,290

1994–95 2,730 4,390 7,120 780 2,740 3,520 1.970 3,310 5,290 5,490 10,440 15,930

1995–96 3,360 5,240 8,600 760 2,720 3,480 1,870 3,290 5,160 5,990 11,250 17,240

1996–97 3,840 6,370 10,210 700 2,600 3,290 1,810 3,170 4,980 6,350 12,130 18,480

1997–98² 4,400 7,090 11,490 770 2,740 3,510 1,210 2,090 3,300 6,380 11,920 18,300

1998–99 970 1,450 2,420 790 2,950 3,740 860 1,460 2,320 2,620 5,860 8,480

1999–2000 1,150 1,530 2,670 930 3,260 4,190 870 1,480 2,350 2,940 6,270 9,210

2000–01 1,280 1,910 3,190 950 3,200 4,150 1,040 1,610 2,650 3,270 6,720 9,990

2001–02⁴ 1,330 2,160 3,490 970 3,140 4,120 910 1,440 2,350 3,210 6,750 9,950

¹ Excludes sixth form colleges.

² The effect of the change in the Teachers' Pension Scheme as from 31 August 1997 was that many more teachers took early retirement in 1997 than in previous years. Premature includes Actuarially Reduced Benefit retirements from 2000–01.

³ Changes in the statutory regulations governing ill-health retirement came into force on 1 April 1997. To qualify for ill-health retirement benefits a teacher must now be regarded as permanently unfit to teach.

⁴ 2001–02 data are provisional.

Source:
Pensioner Statistical System (PENSTATS)

§ Mr. Fabian Hamilton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of teachers were aged 45 or over in(a) 2002, (b) 1997, (c) 1992, (d) 1987 and (e) 1982. [105542]

§ Mr. Miliband
The table provides age breakdowns of teachers in full-time service.
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table 44 of the 2002 edition of 'Statistics of Education: School Workforce in England'. A copy of this volume has been placed in the Library. The table is also available on the statistics section of the DfES website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/DB/VOL/v0380/456-t44.htm.

Percentage of teachers by age¹

Year of service (March) Under 30 30–44 45 and over

1982² 23 46 31

1987³ 14 53 32

1992⁴ 13 50 37

1997⁴ 17 40 43

2001^4,5 19 35 46

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¹ Age as at 31 March in each year shown.
² Full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. Includes teachers in sixth form colleges.
³ Full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England. Includes teachers in sixth form colleges.
⁴ Full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in England. Excludes teachers in sixth form colleges.
⁵ 2001 is the most recent year for which these data are available.
Note:
Figures are rounded and may not appear to sum to 100 per cent.

Table 2—Average length of service ( years) of those leaving service by age at 31 March
	0–25	25–30	30–35	35–40	40–45	45–50	50–55	55–60	Total⁵
1994	1.2	3.0	5.9	9.1	11.5	13.9	15.9	17.9	9.8
1995	1.3	3.1	5.8	9.1	11.8	14.1	15.9	18.6	9.8
1996	1.2	3.0	5.7	8.7	11.2	14.1	15.9	18.5	9.5
1997	1.3	3.0	5.8	8.7	11.5	14.5	16.2	20.2	9.7
1998	1.2	3.0	5.8	8.5	11.7	15.1	16.9	19.1	10.0
1999	1.2	3.0	5.7	8.4	11.8	15.4	17.7	20.7	10.3
2000	1.3	3.0	5.7	8.4	11.6	15.4	18.2	21.7	10.7
2001	1.2	3.1	5.9	8.7	11.5	15.8	19.6	22.8	11.4
¹ Leavers are those qualified regular teachers who were in full-time or part-time service in the maintained schools sector in England at 31 March of the previous year, who were not in service in that sector and had not entered retirement at 31 March of the year shown.
² The information is from Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) returns. The scheme covers the maintained schools sector plus some of the independent, further education and higher education sectors. Teachers shown as leaving regular service in the maintained sector in England may have moved to: other service that is recorded on the scheme, e.g. service in some independent schools or service in Wales; service that is not recorded, for example higher education establishments that are not in the TPS, these will appear to have left teaching service. Some leavers will be taking career breaks and will return to service at a later date.
³ Around 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. of part-timers may not be included.
⁴ Length of service information is not available for years 1990–91 to 1992–93.
⁵ Teachers leaving service at the age of 60 or over who are not recorded as entering retirement have not been included in Table 1, since teachers who leave the scheme after the retirement age of 60 automatically qualify for retirement benefits. However, such teachers have been included in the 'Total' average length of service calculation in Table 2.

Table 44: Retirements—Retirements from the maintained schools sector¹: Type of award and sex by year of award: England
	Premature²	Age	Ill-health³	Total
Financial year (1 April to 31 March)	Men	Women	Men and Women	Men	Women	Men and Women	Men	Women	Men and Women	Men	Women	Men and Women
1989–90	3,220	4,840	8,060	960	2,550	3,500	1,270	2,310	3,580	5,440	9,700	15,140
1990–91	3,000	4,740	7,740	890	2,610	3,500	1,420	2,860	4,280	5,310	10,210	15,520
1991–92	2,470	4,070	6,530	810	2,360	3,170	1.390	2,640	4,030	4,660	9,070	13,730
1992–93	2,760	4,400	7,170	750	2,560	3,310	1.440	2,610	4,050	4,950	9,580	14,530
1993–94	3,180	4,860	8,030	850	2,580	3,430	1,840	2,990	4,820	5,860	10,420	16,290
1994–95	2,730	4,390	7,120	780	2,740	3,520	1.970	3,310	5,290	5,490	10,440	15,930
1995–96	3,360	5,240	8,600	760	2,720	3,480	1,870	3,290	5,160	5,990	11,250	17,240
1996–97	3,840	6,370	10,210	700	2,600	3,290	1,810	3,170	4,980	6,350	12,130	18,480
1997–98²	4,400	7,090	11,490	770	2,740	3,510	1,210	2,090	3,300	6,380	11,920	18,300
1998–99	970	1,450	2,420	790	2,950	3,740	860	1,460	2,320	2,620	5,860	8,480
1999–2000	1,150	1,530	2,670	930	3,260	4,190	870	1,480	2,350	2,940	6,270	9,210
2000–01	1,280	1,910	3,190	950	3,200	4,150	1,040	1,610	2,650	3,270	6,720	9,990
2001–02⁴	1,330	2,160	3,490	970	3,140	4,120	910	1,440	2,350	3,210	6,750	9,950
¹ Excludes sixth form colleges.
² The effect of the change in the Teachers' Pension Scheme as from 31 August 1997 was that many more teachers took early retirement in 1997 than in previous years. Premature includes Actuarially Reduced Benefit retirements from 2000–01.
³ Changes in the statutory regulations governing ill-health retirement came into force on 1 April 1997. To qualify for ill-health retirement benefits a teacher must now be regarded as permanently unfit to teach.
⁴ 2001–02 data are provisional.

Percentage of teachers by age¹
Year of service (March)	Under 30	30–44	45 and over
1982²	23	46	31
1987³	14	53	32
1992⁴	13	50	37
1997⁴	17	40	43
2001^4,5	19	35	46