§ 63. Lieut.-Colonel Wickhamasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the total accommodation in public elementary schools, council and voluntary, administered by the Somerset County Education Committee; and what was the average attendance for the year ended 31st March, 1937?
Mr. LindsayAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
The accommodation of many public elementary schools has not been reassessed for many years, and does not represent their effective accommodation on modern standards. Subject to that important qualification, the present recognised accommodation of the public elementary schools in the administrative county of Somerset is as follow:
| Council Schools | 27,207 |
| Voluntary Schools | 39,344 |
| Total | 66,551 |
§ The average attendance for the year ended 31st March, 1937, was:
| Council Schools | 14,699 |
| Voluntary Schools | 19,944 |
| Total | 34,643 |
§ 65. Mr. Morganasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the shortage of public elementary school accommodation in Harrow; and what steps are being taken to make good the shortage?
Mr. LindsayMy Noble Friend is aware that, owing to the rapid housing development in Harrow, the local education authority have found it difficult to keep pace with the increase in the numbers of children, an increase of about 1,500 per annum over the last seven years, requiring elementary school accommodation. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement setting out the present position.
Following is the statement:
From September, 1930, to April, 1938, the numbers on the rolls of the elementary schools in Harrow increased from 6,6o6 to 18,713, the average annual increase being about 1,500. During the seven years preceding November last, additional school accommodation in permanent buildings amounting to 7,326 places has been provided, and during the last seven months eight new departments with accommodation for 3,198 children have been opened. At the present time there are in the district 16,794 school places in permanent buildings, 2,222 places in huts specially erected for the purpose, and 800 places under temporary arrangements in church halls and similar buildings, a total of 19,816 places for a roll of 18,713 children. A new school for 850 children will be opened after the summer holidays; two others for 1,460 children will be opened within a year. Plans for a further 1,642 places are under consideration and an additional five sites have been acquired for which building plans have not yet been drawn.