Mr. O' DONNELLasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the total number of free places in secondary schools in England and Wales given in consideration of the higher grant from the Board; and what, approximately, would be the average fee had each student to pay for himself?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)In the 785 secondary schools in England and Wales receiving the higher grant from the Board, the number of free places which had to be offered at the beginning of the current school year in order to meet the Board's requirements was 10,497. The number actually given was, however, 13,289, besides 322 more which were offered but not taken up. The variation among the fees charged in these schools is so great that it is impossible to say, even approximately, what the average fee would be. The fees differ not only as between school and school, but also in the same school according to the age of pupil, the area from which pupil comes, and other circumstances.