HC Deb 01 December 1927 vol 211 cc687-8
30. Mr. HARRIS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any Reports to show how the raising of the school age is working in the areas where local authorities have adopted it?

Lord E. PERCY

It is, I think, too early to form a considered opinion on this point. The education advantages of prolonging school life must depend upon the extent to which children are given a real opportunity of entering upon a new stage of advanced instruction at the age of 11, and I am not yet in a position to draw a comparison between the progress made in this direction by authorities who have raised the school age and those who have not.

Mr. HARRIS

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct his Inspectors to watch closely these experiments, and in due course to make a full report, so that we shall know how they are working?

Lord E. PERCY

No instructions are necessary. The Inspectors do keep them very closely under their observation.

Mr. SHEPHERD

In view of the bearing of this question upon unemployment, will the Noble Lord press other authorities to raise the school leaving age?

Mr. DIXEY

May we take it that it is no part of the policy of the Government to encourage an increase in the age of compulsory attendance at school?