§ 51. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in London 25 per cent. of the schools which in 1920 were in the highest Grades IV and V had fallen by 31st March last to 17 per cent.; that the 564 schools in Grade IV in 1920 had become 369, and the 36 schools in Grade V had fallen to 24; and that this fall in the grading of schools continues; if he can say whether there is a similar fall in the grading of schools in other areas throughout the country; and whether, in view of the Burnham Committee's Report of 1920 that no head teacher should suffer in status or salary owing to causes beyond his or her control, he will say what steps, if any, he proposes to take in order to remedy this state of affairs?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Duchess of Atholl)The information in my right; hon. Friend's possession does not suggest that the number of Grade IV and Grade V head teacherships in London has fallen 866 to the extent suggested by my hon. Friend, or that any such decrease has occurred in the country as a whole. The grading of public elementary schools for salary purposes is primarily a matter for consideration by the Burnham Committee. Certain special arrangements have already been made with my right hon. Friend's approval to mitigate hardships to which head teachers might be exposed by the operation of the rules laid down by the Committee for the grading of schools. These arrangements will, he understands, be embodied in a Report by the Committee, and he hopes shortly to be able to send my hon. Friend a copy of the Report.
§ Mr. HARRISWill the Noble Lady consider referring this matter to the Burnham Committee for further consideration, owing to the many cases if hardship and the special circumstances of the cases?
Duchess of ATHOLLI think that, as the Burnham Committee are preparing a Report on the subject, we had better wait until we see what the Report contains.