§ 12. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the resolution unanimously adopted by the conference of the National Union of Teachers last Tuesday, to the effect that many of the education authorities were evading the spirit of Article 14 of the Code by demanding the promotion of pupils regardless of educational attainments, especially by premature promotion from infant schools, in order to secure throughout the school classes the maximum size permitted by the Code, and that local education authorities instead of regarding a class of sixty children as the maximum had for reasons of economy made it the usual practice, regardless of the children's interests; whether the Board admit the accuracy of the statements contained in such resolution; and, if so, what action do they propose to take in this matter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)I have seen the resolution referred to by the hon. Member. I am certainly not prepared to admit that local education authorities generally are open to the serious charge suggested in the 566 resolution. The classification and promotion of scholars fall primarily within the discretion of local education authorities and head teachers; but the Board possess sufficient powers under the Code to enable them to deal with any exceptional cases in which that discretion is so abused as to affect the efficiency of the school.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTMay I ask whether the Board exercises this discretionary power to which the hon. Gentleman has referred?
§ Mr. TREVELYANYes; generally by pressing for more accommodation, which is usually the cause for acting.