§ 6. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Education the number of children between the ages 1416 of 14 and 15 at public elementary and secondary schools, the estimated number at other schools, and the estimated number not at school?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)In the year 1925–26 the numbers of pupils in the age-group 14–15 in the grant-aided elementary and secondary schools were 164,410 and 62,632, respectively; there were also 5,056 pupils in this age-group attending other State-aided schools and institutions. I regret that I am unable to give corresponding figures for schools not in receipt of assistance from public funds. As regards the number not at school, I think the best indication I can give is that the number of pupils in the age-group 13–14 in grant-aided elementary schools in 1924–25 was 581,416. The number of children in the age-group 14–15 will, of course, fluctuate greatly in future years owing to fluctuations in the birth-rate, and in this connection I may refer my hon. Friend to page 17 of the Memorandum on the Board's Estimates for 1926, a copy of which I am sending him.