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Science

Answer

The number of people recruited to science teacher training in England from 1999 to 2005 is given in Table 1.

Table 1: Science teacher training
	Recruitment
1999/2000	2,362
2000/01	2,413
2001/02	2,594
2002/03	2,701
2003/04	2,871
2004/05	2,806

Since 2000 we have provided £6,000 bursaries to PGCE trainee science teachers and have also provided them with a £4,000 Golden Hello once they have successfully completed their induction. From September 2005 trainee science teachers have been provided with a £7,000 bursary and from September 2006 the bursary will increase again to £9,000. Science teachers who received the increased bursary will also be provided with an increased Golden Hello of £5,000, once they have successfully completed their induction.The number of people recruited to teach science through the employment-based routes into teaching in England from 1999 to 2004 is given in Table 2.

Table 2: Science employment-based routes into teaching
	Recruitment
1999/2000	60
2000/01	170
2001/02	460
2002/03	520
2003/04	660

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is now funding nine enhancement courses to increase the number of people able to start initial teacher training. As a result of the pilot courses, this year 74 additional people who were previously unable to train as science teachers will begin initial teacher training with a specialism in either physics or chemistry. Enhancement courses will be made available nationally from January 2006.In 2004, 2,711 science trainees successfully completed initial teacher training and gained qualified teacher status; this is 41.9 per cent. (801) more newly qualified science teachers than in 1999.Over the last three years, in order to attract more science undergraduates into teaching we have been running the very successful Student Associate Scheme in partnership with the TDA. The scheme places high quality undergraduates in schools for up to 20 days to provide curriculum support for teachers and to carry out project work with pupils. From the academic year 2003/04 to 2004/05, the scheme has placed around 4,500 science undergraduates in schools and we expect that figure to rise by more than 3,000 in the current 2005/06 academic year.The Government are committed to improving young people's attainment in science and the number progressing to science study at higher levels.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

22922; 438 c1203-4W;438 c1201-2W

Session

2005-06

Related items

Science
Monday, 14 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

Education Teachers Science