47. Miss LEEasked the President of the Board of Education if he will limit the size of classes to a maximum of 30 in the final school year when the leaving age is raised to 15?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Sir Charles Trevelyan)Difficulties of organisation would make it impracticable to prescribe a lower limit for the last year of the school course than for earlier years; but it is likely that a large number of classes during the last year will, in fact, fall below the limit of 40.
Miss LEEWill the Minister keep in mind the fact that an additional strain will be imposed both on the teachers and the children after the new school-leaving age has come into force; and will he see to it that everything possible is done to supply the necessary teachers and to prevent larger classes?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANCertainly, and in the senior schools measures are being taken to have smaller classes than at present.
§ Mr. STEPHENWill the Minister see that the limit on the size of classes in the schools in the last year will be the same as it is for the secondary schools?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANWe cannot be expected to get to that stage at once.