§ 56. Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will consider leaving out of account classes of less than 15 children in small rural schools, or similar classes 1513 in senior schools in other areas, due to reorganisation, when he is computing the average per class for the purpose of deciding the reasonableness, or otherwise, of the establishment schemes of local education authorities?
Mr. LindsayThe average number of scholars per class in an authority's area is not the criterion by which the reasonableness of the authority's proposed establishment of teachers is judged by the Board; and in considering these establishments the inevitability of exceptionally small classes in particular cases is recognised.
§ Mr. TomlinsonCan the hon. Gentleman inform me how it is that in dealing with the establishment the Department always quotes the average, and how is it possible to obtain an average which is under 30 without having classes of over 50, if classes of 15 are taken into computation?
Mr. LindsayPerhaps the hon. Member will see me afterwards, when I will give him further information.