HC Deb 02 December 1912 vol 44 cc1854-5
18. Mr. KING

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that two children were admitted to the council school at Tideswell, Derby shire, and then subsequently excluded from the school as they had previously been in attendance at the Church of England school; and what power is there under the Code or any Statute to expel from school children already on the register on such grounds?

Mr. PEASE

The children referred to were admitted on the instructions of the managers of the council school, and subsequently excluded by the local education authority under their regulation to prevent capricious removals. Article 53 (a) of the Code provides that no child may be refused admission on other than reasonable grounds, and I am prepared to consider, on its merits, any appeal made by the parents on this point.

Mr. KING

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that if the children are admitted and then excluded, it can be brought against them and their parents that the children have been expelled from school? That has actually been done in this case.

Mr. PEASE

I think the action taken in this case would make it clear that there was no imputation of the kind resting upon the children.