HC Deb 17 July 1930 vol 241 cc1457-8
38. Mr. EDE

asked the President of the Board of Education how many secondary schools maintained or aided by local authorities in England and Wales give religious instruction in accordance with the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church, of the Church of England, and of other religious denominations, respectively, the number of such schools where the religious teaching is on undenominational lines; and the number of children in each of those respective groups of schools?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

As the answer to this question includes a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The giving of religious instruction in secondary schools maintained by local education authorities is governed by Section 72 of the Education Act, 1921. I have no information as to the extent to which denominational religious instruction is given in such schools in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 3 of that Section.

On 1st January, 1930, there were 535 non-provided schools in England and Wales which were recognised by the Board for purposes of grant and were aided by local education authorities. In the case of 174 of these schools, regulations for denominational religious instruction have been submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Regulations for Secondary Schools under which the Governors may provide denominational instruction upon the written request of parents. The particulars are as follow:

Denominational Instruction. Number of Schools. Total number of full-time pupils on 1st October, 1929.
Church of England 95 23,018
Roman Catholic 67 16,795
Wesleyan Methodist 1 238
Church of Wales 1 144
Any denomination (according to the request of the parent). 10 1,893
Total 174 42,088

It may be assumed that in the case of the remaining 381 non-provided schools aided by local education authorities (containing 108,256 pupils) such religious instruction as is given is undenominational in character.