§ 38. Colonel Sir CHARLES YATEasked the President of the Board of Education what is the recognised Board of Education standard of marks necessary for a free place in a secondary school; and how many local authorities are asking that the standard should be raised?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe Board have not attempted to prescribe a minimum number of marks qualifying a candidate for a free place in a secondary school. 2444 In the explanatory note to their secondary school Regulations the Board have indicated the general principles which, in their view, should be adopted for determining a candidate's suitability for admission. I am not aware that any local authority has suggested that the standard indicated is too low.
§ Sir C. YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman fix a standard?
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow can there be a fixed standard?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have said in my reply that we have indicated the general principles.
§ Sir C. YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman indicate a general standard?
§ Mr. HANNONIs it a fact that children in secondary schools have not the standard of training to fit them usefully to attend the schools?
§ Mr. TREVELYANOur experience is that the standard is steadily rising all the time.
§ Sir C. YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman raise it now at once?
§ Mr. COVEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all these examinations are conducted by local authorities and are all competitive, and that many thousands of children have qualified for whom no places are open?