1,400 LESS QUALIFIED LONDON PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN 6 YEARS

12.01.00am GMT Fri 19th Dec 2003

New figures revealed today by Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP show that the number of primary school teachers in London has dropped by over 1,400 in the last 6 years, with only ten out of thirty three boroughs recording increases.

The figures revealed in a Parliamentary answer to Mr Hughes shows that in 1997 there were 28,470 qualified primary school teachers in London. By 2003 this figure had dropped to 27,040. The number of primary school children fell by only 8,200 in the same period leading to increases in the trained teachers to children ratio.

The worst 5 Councils for drops in qualified teacher numbers were:-

- Waltham Forest with a 21% drop in teachers (-210)

- Tower Hamlets with an 18% drop (-210)

- Hounslow with a 17.5% drop (-160)

- Ealing with a 15% drop (-180)

- Harrow with 13.5% drop (-130)

Mr Hughes said:-

"There is a clear trend where qualified teachers seem to be refusing to come to London. While there is a decline in the numbers of children going to primary schools in London there is an even greater decline in qualified teachers. This leads to more children being taught in classes without qualified teachers and could lead to a lower quality of education.

"While class sizes may be down, the rooms will be staffed either by more classroom assistants or we will have to recruit more overseas teachers to fill the gaps left by the absence of qualified UK teachers. Many newly qualified teachers are not coming to work in London because with huge debts to pay off, they don't stand a chance of getting on the property ladder.

"Ministers, the Boroughs and the Mayor must make a concerted effort to attract more qualified teachers into London. Without this, many of our children will be left with classroom assistants rather than teachers at their most critical stage of learning."

ENDS

Notes to editor

A full breakdown of the figures can be found by going to the link below

http://www.simon4mayor.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3fab6f002cc653.91847936/Table+of+Primary+School+Teacher+Drop.doc