---

Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many graduates in (a) maths, (b) physics and (c) chemistry are expected to commence teacher training in the current year; and how many commenced teacher training in each of the preceding five years. [92750] Ms Estelle Morris: The numbers of entrants to PGCE initial teacher training in maths and science in England and Wales for the five years 1994-95 to 1998-99 are given in the following table. Intake to PGCE initial teacher training (ITT) in England and Wales to train in maths and science, 1994-95 to 1998-99 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Maths Science 1994-95 1,651 2,714 1995-96 1,575 2,686 1996-97 1,443 2,705 1997-98 1,233 2,590 1998-99{1} 981 2,195 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Provisional mid-year data Sources: England: Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 1994-95; TTA Survey of ITT Providers 1995-96 to 1998-99 Wales: Welsh Office 1994-95; Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 1995-96 to 1998-99 It is too early to predict recruitment to PGCE courses in 1999-2000. However, following the introduction of £5,000 incentives in maths and science, applications have gone up substantially, by 37 per cent. for maths to 1,306 and 24 per cent. for science to 2,784. Within the figure for science there have been increases of 33 per cent. for physics and 27 per cent. for chemistry. We are therefore confident that the decline in recruitment since 1995 will be reversed this year.The following table taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's Student Record Survey shows the percentage of those commencing PGCE teacher training who were graduates in maths, physics and chemistry in the years 1995-96 and 1997-98. These are the subjects of first degree and not necessarily the subjects or phase in which the student is undertaking teacher training. Information for the current year and 1998-99 is not yet available. There are a significant proportion of students for whom the first degree subject is unknown. The subjects of first degree do not include combined courses, or closely related courses such as engineering. Percentage of those commencing PGCE initial teacher training (ITT) in England and Wales with first degrees in maths, physics or chemistry, 1995-96 to 1997-98 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Maths Physics Chemistry 1995-96 4 1 2 1996-97 3 1 2 1997-98 3 1 2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: Statistics has been included with maths Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency's Student Record Survey

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

92750; 336 c179-80W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Chemistry Graduates Teachers Training Science Mathematics Physics

Contains statistics

Yes