HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc117-8W
Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of the number of support staff working in schools; and if he will make a statement. [176036]

Mr. Miliband

In January 2004 there were 241,700 full-time equivalent support staff employed in maintained schools in England—an increase of over 100,000 since 1997. Further information was published on 29 April in the School Workforce in England statistical first release, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library and can be accessed from the following URL: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000462/index.shtml

Teacher numbers rose by 4,000 over the past year. This is excellent news for schools as they remodel their workforce and creates new capacity to raise standards.