To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers have been trained as lead teachers for gifted and talented education in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. (177214)

The training programme for lead teachers in gifted and talented education began to be rolled out in September 2007. It is intended that every secondary school will have a lead teacher and that small groups of primary schools will share a lead teacher, though they can choose to have one of their own.

Data on numbers undertaking the initial face-to-face sessions will not be available until March 2008. Survey evidence suggests training is under way in over 80 per cent. of local authorities, though with some variation in the proportion of schools so far engaged.

The national strategies are monitoring participation carefully and, through local authorities, will strongly encourage all schools to participate.