§ 30. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any Reports to show how the raising of the school age is working in the areas where local authorities have adopted it?
§ Lord E. PERCYIt is, I think, too early to form a considered opinion on this point. The education advantages of prolonging school life must depend upon the extent to which children are given a real opportunity of entering upon a new stage of advanced instruction at the age of 11, and I am not yet in a position to draw a comparison between the progress made in this direction by authorities who have raised the school age and those who have not.
§ Mr. HARRISWill the right hon. Gentleman instruct his Inspectors to watch closely these experiments, and in due course to make a full report, so that we shall know how they are working?
§ Lord E. PERCYNo instructions are necessary. The Inspectors do keep them very closely under their observation.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIn view of the bearing of this question upon unemployment, will the Noble Lord press other authorities to raise the school leaving age?
§ Mr. DIXEYMay we take it that it is no part of the policy of the Government to encourage an increase in the age of compulsory attendance at school?