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Fast-track Teacher Recruitment
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications were received; how many applicants were accepted; how many applicants commenced training; and how many have failed to complete training in each of the years since the establishment of the fast-track teacher recruitment scheme. [15561]
Mr. Timms: The first round of recruitment to the Fast Track Teaching Programme was completed in Spring 2001. Over 40,000 inquiries were received by phone and internet; 1,574 applications were received; 135 places were offered to successful applicants; 111 chose to take up their places in September 2001 and a further nine deferred their places for a year. Three have withdrawn since the beginning of the academic year.
Teacher Training
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the cost of providing an internet- based application system for post-graduate teacher training. [15559]
Mr. Timms: The total cost of the Graduate Teacher Training Registry's electronic applications service was £146,640, including value added tax.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many rejected applicants for fast-track teaching were subsequently placed on other post-graduate
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teacher training programmes through the Graduate Teacher Training Register; what was the total additional resource allocation for this purpose; and if she will make a statement; [15560]
- (2) how many applicants who were rejected by the fast-track teaching scheme were referred to the Graduate Teacher Training Register for placement on other teacher training programmes for 2001–02. [15562]
Mr. Timms: There were 1,574 applicants to the Fast-Track Teaching programme in the first round. Details of 677 unsuccessful applicants were passed on to the Graduate Teacher Training Register (GTTR); of whom 105 secured places on other post-graduate teacher training programmes in 2001–02. The cost of processing these candidates through GTTR was £12,186 and was borne by the Teacher Training Agency.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students took part in the graduate training scheme for teachers in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [15556]
Mr. Timms: The table contains the numbers of people who started the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) during the calendar years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001:
| Number of new entrants | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 305 |
| 1999 | 591 |
| 2000 | 1,185 |
| 2001 | 2,249 |
Note:
The Graduate Teacher Programme started in January 1998. The figures exclude overseas trained teachers.
Source:
Teacher Training Agency
Trainees on the Graduate Teacher Programme can enter the programme throughout the academic year.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications were received by the Graduate Teacher Training Register for postgraduate teacher training for the year 2001–02; how many applications were successful; how many applicants commenced training; and what was the cost per student of placing them on a graduate teacher training register scheme. [15563]
Mr. Timms: The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) received a total of 37,963 1 applications, for postgraduate initial teacher training courses starting in 2001–02 in England. Of those, 20,041 2 were accepted. The Teacher Training Agency's Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Trainees Numbers Census recorded a total of 21,140 3 new entrants on postgraduate ITT courses in England, for 2001–02. Not all entrants to postgraduate ITT courses apply through the GTTR.
The cost of placing a student on a GTTR scheme is not collected centrally.
- 1 This the provisional end of year figure for applications to postgraduate ITT courses in England, from GTTR.
- 2 This is the provisional end of year figure for accepted applications to postgraduate ITT courses in England, from GTTR.
- 3 This is the provisional total from the TTA's ITT Trainee Numbers Census.
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Road Noise (Classrooms)
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines she sets for the maximum level of background road noise in (a) classrooms and (b) classrooms in schools with special needs. [15069]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 state that
- "Each room or other space in a school building shall have the acoustic conditions and the insulation against disturbance by noise appropriate to its normal use."
For new school buildings, the Department has published Building Bulletin 87 "Guidelines for Environmental Design in Schools". This contains the following acoustic standards.
- (a) Table 1a gives the recommended maximum background noise levels, from adjacent areas, ventilation and traffic noise, for various types of spaces found in schools. The figure quoted for general teaching, seminar and tutorial rooms and classbases is 40 dB Laeq,1hr.
- (b) In specialist accommodation for pupils with hearing impairments, in special schools and in special units in mainstream schools, the maximum background noise level should be at least 10 dB lower than the figures given in Table 1a.
Education School Standards Framework Act
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to reform the Education School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and if she will make a statement. [15553]
Estelle Morris: As announced in the Queen's Speech, the Government intend to introduce an Education Bill during this Parliamentary session, in order to implement the White Paper "Schools—achieving success". The Bill is in preparation and will include amendments to a number of Education Acts, including the School Standards and Framework Act.
Graduate Training Scheme
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools took part in the graduate training scheme for teachers in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [15555]
Mr. Timms: The information is not readily available. Participants in the Graduate Teacher Programme may work in more than one school during their training in order to enhance the range of experience that they gain.
School Admissions (Religious Practice)
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she gives on school admissions arrangements that require children and their families to have practised a specified religion. [15417]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 16 November 2001]: Admission authorities for schools determine their own admission arrangements, which must comply with all relevant legislation and have regard to guidance in the Code of Practice on School Admissions, which was approved by Parliament.
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Schools supported by religious foundations have generally been set up on trust deeds, which require them to serve their faith adherents. Their governing bodies must conduct the school in accordance with the terms of the trust deed, providing this does not conflict with general legislation.
Such schools may give priority for admission to members of their particular faith or denomination. Where they do, their admission arrangements should make clear whether a statement of religious affiliation or commitment would be sufficient; whether it is to be "tested" for admission purposes and if so, how; and what, if any, references would be required and how they will be used.
Teacher Vacancies (Maintained Schools)
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in maintained schools in each local education authority area at the beginning of the current school term. [15619]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 16 November 2001]: The information is not available for September 2001. Full-time teacher vacancies in the maintained schools sector in January 2001 in England were as follows:
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