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Assistant Teachers

Volume 75: debated on Monday 11 March 1985

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asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average number of hours worked during each week of term time by assistant teachers in maintained (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; if he will give figures for 1974, 1979 and 1984; and how many weeks constitute the working year.

The length of the time-tabled school week is not prescribed, nor is detailed information on practice collected by the Department. A typical primary timetable might involve 25 hours, excluding midday and other breaks and after-school activities. A typical secondary week would be a little longer, perhaps 27 hours. Primary school teachers (including head teachers) teach on average for some 90 per cent. of the time-tabled week, for secondary the figure is about 80 per cent. Schools are required to open for a minimum of 190 days (38 weeks) a year.The Department does not have similar information about the non-teaching work load of teachers. Nor does it have evidence on changes in work load or practice since 1974.