HC Deb 28 May 1891 vol 353 cc1184-5
MR. ELLIOTT LEES (Oldham)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he can now state the difference in the percentage of passes obtained by half-timers between 10 and 12 years of age, as compared with the percentage of passes obtained by full timers between those ages?

SIR W. HART DYKE

In schools examined in the Rochdale district during a fixed period it appears that the percentage of passes in the 3rd Standard was 81 against 75 in the case of half-timers between 10 and 12; in the 4th Standard 89 against 81; and in the 5th, 84.7 against 76.7, showing a balance against half timers of 8 per cent. A comparison made in one typical school in Bradford shows very similar results, the percentage being 98.2 against 90.2 in the case of half timers between 10 and 12.

MR. SUMMERS

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether there are any boroughs or parishes that have no standards of half-time and full-time exemption, and that exercise compulsion only between the ages of 5 and 10; and if so, what is their number; and whether there are any boroughs or parishes uhere the standard of half-time exemption is as low as the first, and the standard of full-time exemption lower than the fourth?

SIR W. HART DYKE

(1) There are 29 parishes where compulsion prevails only between 5 and 10 years of age; (2) There are five parishes where Standard III is the standard for total exemption, and no standard for partial exemption exists; there are two parishes where Standard III. and II. prevail for total and partial exemption respectively; there are nine parishes where no standard for total exemption prevails, but which adopt a standard for partial exemption (8 Standard IV., 1 Standard V.); there is one parish which compels attendance right up to 13 years of age, and allows of no exemption, whole or partial; (3) There are 25 parishes which have Standard I. for partial exemption. These are remains of old bye-laws adopted before 1880. The Department has no power to compel their revision, although every effort is made to induce the School Authorities to raise the standard, as occasion offers.

MR. SUMMERS

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish the names of the parishes?

SIR W. HART DYKE

I should have no objection, but the information is already given in the Return which was made last year.