§ MR. BYLES (York, W.R., Shipley)In the absence of the hon. Member for the Skipton Division of Yorks, I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education if he is aware that the village of Earby, in the parish of Thornton-in-Craven, with an estimated population of 2,300, and available scholars exceeding 500, has school accommodation for not more than 250 children; whether any steps have been taken by the managers of the schools to carry out certain structural alterations recommended by the Inspector three months ago; whether a demand for free places made six months ago at one of the schools was refused; whether, in consequence of the existing schools being understaffed, complaints have been made to the Education Department of abuse of home lessons, and consequent overpressure of the children; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the present unsatisfactory state of education in the village?
§ MR. ACLANDThe two schools in Earby have accommodation for 254 children. After the last inspection the managers of both were urged to improve them—in the case of the grammar school by replacing it by a new building, and in that of the Wesleyan school by adding an infant department and letting the older children occupy the whole of the present building. Both of these schools have the right to charge fees; but any parent may make a claim to the Department to provide free school places for his children. The staff of the schools during the last school year met the requirements of the Department. Complaints have recently been made as to the abuse of home lessons, which will be inquired into. I understand that the question of additional school provision is under discussion on the spot, but no proposals 486 have yet been submitted to the Department. I have called for a special Report on the whole question of school provision here, which will receive the fullest attention.