---

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Unfilled Teacher Posts

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unfilled teacher posts there are currently in (a) the primary sector, (b) the secondary sector and (c) total, giving the numbers per subject in the secondary sector; and what are these figures as percentages of (i) the primary sector as a whole and (ii) secondary teachers grouped according to subject.[29636]

Mr. Robin Squire: Information on teacher vacancies as at January 1995, the latest currently available, were published in press notice 110/95 on 24 May 1995. A copy has been placed in the Library. The figures were published as provisional but they have since been finalised without any amendments being necessary.

Provisional figures for January 1996 will be published in a press notice on 23 May 1996. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Teachers (Early Retirement)

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of teachers sought early retirement in each of the last five years in (a) the primary sector and (b) the secondary sector and (c) overall, broken down by the grounds on which early retirement was sought and given in total. [29635]

Mr. Robin Squire: Information on teachers seeking early retirement is not collected centrally. The following table shows the latest information on members of the teachers' superannuation scheme obtaining early retirement.

Number of percentage of nursery, primary and secondary school teachers(2) obtaining early retirement. Retirements in each financial year

	Numbers (3)			Percentages (4)
	Nursery and primary schools	Secondary schools(5)	Total	Nursery and primary schools	Secondary schools(5)	Total
				Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
1990-91
Efficiency	3,450	2,710	6,160	1.7	1.3	1.5
Redundancy	300	1,230	1,530	0.2	0.6	0.4
Ill health	2,360	1,550	3,900	1.2	0.7	1.0
Total	6,110	5,490	11,590	3.1	2.6	2.8
1991-92
Efficiency	2,760	2,060	4,820	1.4	1.0	1.2
Redundancy	360	1,150	1,510	0.2	0.6	0.4
Ill health	2,120	1,460	3,580	1.1	0.7	0.9
Total	5,240	4,670	9,910	2.6	2.3	2.5
1992-93
Efficiency	2,540	2,200	4,740	1.3	1.1	1.2
Redundancy	700	1,310	2,010	0.3	0.6	0.5
Ill health	2,080	1,560	3,650	1.0	0.8	0.9
Total	5,320	5,070	10,400	2.6	2.5	2.6
1993-94
Efficiency	2,410	2,380	4,790	1.2	1.2	1.2
Redundancy	920	1,710	2,630	0.5	0.8	0.6
Ill health	2,280	2,000	4,290	1.1	1.0	1.1
Total	5,610	6,090	11,710	2.8	3.0	2.9
1994-95
Efficiency	2,560	2,260	4,820	1.3	1.1	1.2
Redundancy	780	1,240	2,020	0.4	0.6	0.5
Ill health	2,630	2,110	4,740	1.3	1.0	1.2
Total	5,970	5,610	11,580	2.9	2.8	2.8

(2) Excludes peripatetic teachers, supply teachers and teachers providing nursery, primary or secondary education other than in school.

(3) Includes only members of the teachers' superannuation scheme some of whom were not working as teachers immediately prior to retirement.

(4) The numbers of early retirements from the TSS shown as a percentage of teachers in service in schools at 31 March, prior to each financial year. The number of teachers in service includes some who may not have been members of the teachers' superannuation scheme.

(5) Excludes sixth-form colleges throughout.

20 May 1996 : Column: 5

20 May 1996 : Column: 5

Class Sizes

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of children in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in January of (i) 1980, (ii) 1991, (iii) 1992, (iv) 1994, (v) 1995 and (vi) 1996 were being taught in classes of (1) 30 and (2) 40 or more in each local education authority in England and in total. [29641]

Mr. Robin Squire: The available information is contained in a number of tables which have been placed in the Library.

Teacher Training

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what

20 May 1996 : Column: 6

percentage of those enrolled on teacher training courses in each of the last five years failed to complete the course; and what estimate she has made of the cost of the training which they received. [29638]

Mr. Robin Squire: The only information centrally available is calculated from the difference between the numbers embarking on bachelor of education and postgraduate certificate of education courses and those successfully completing them four years or one year later. The numbers and percentages of entrants failing successfully to complete initial teacher training courses in the last five years for which such calculations can be made are as follows. The table includes those failing examinations as well as those dropping out voluntarily. We do not know how much of the course was completed in each case, and cannot therefore calculate the costs of training.

	1989-90	1990-91	1991--92	1992-93	1993-94
B Ed Non-completers(6)
Number of Students	1,539	1,924	2,316	2,588	2,500
Percentage of intake	19 per cent.	22 per cent.	24 per cent.	24 per cent.	21 per cent.
PGCE Non-completers(6)
Number of students	1,191	1,391	1,493	1,451	2,445
Percentage of intake	11 per cent.	12 per cent.	10 per cent.	9 per cent.	13 per cent.

(6) These figures include students who failed, as well as those who dropped out. The calculations are based on the assumption of all PGCE courses lasting one year, and all B Ed courses four years. Figures are for England and Wales.

20 May 1996 : Column: 5

20 May 1996 : Column: 7

Pupil-teacher Ratios

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the average pupil-teacher ratio (a) for each LEA and (b) for England (i) in the primary sector, (ii) in the secondary sector and (iii) overall as of January in each year since 1980. [29634]

Mr. Robin Squire: The available information is contained in a number of tables which will be placed in the Library.

Funding Agency for Schools

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of running the Funding Agency for Schools in 1995-96, and what is the provisional cost for 1996-97. [29637]

Mr. Robin Squire: Grant for the agency's running costs was £11.5 million in 1995-96. Budget provision for 1996-97 is £12.5 million.

New Technology

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to increase the resources available to universities for investment in new technology for teaching. [29852]

Mr. Forth: Higher education institutions receive their funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England as a block grant. It is for institutions themselves to decide their priorities for investment.

The funding council is investing more than £16 million over three years in a programme of metropolitan area networks to improve institutions' access to the higher education and research broadband network SuperJANET. The higher education funding bodies are contributing around £33 million over four years to the UK teaching and learning technology programme which develops innovative approaches to teaching and learning using modern technology.

Pupil Exclusions

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library the guidance issued to local education authorities in respect of the proper use of exclusions; and what plans she has to update it. [29683]

Mr. Robin Squire: A copy of the Department's circular 10/94 on exclusions from school is already in the Library. That guidance will be updated as necessary in the light of policy developments, including possible legislation, which are presently under consideration.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what procedures are in place to monitor whether any school exclusion was used (a) as a last resort and (b) prior to a last resort; what action can be taken if the latter applies; and if she will make a statement; [29681]

(2) what action her Department can take if it finds a school exclusion is unjustified; and in how many cases in the last two years it has taken such action. [29682]

20 May 1996 : Column: 8

Mr. Robin Squire: Only the headteacher has the power to exclude a pupil from school. In all cases of exclusion, parents have the right to make representations to the school's governors and, in the case of local education authority maintained schools, to the LEA. In the case of a permanent exclusion which is confirmed, as applicable, by governors or the LEA, the parents may appeal to an independent appeal committee. The decision of such a committee, which must consider all relevant circumstances in each case, is final and binding. My right hon. Friend has no power to overturn its decision.

---