HC Deb 19 October 1939 vol 352 cc1011-2
25. Mr. R. Morgan

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether arrangements can be made to ensure that pupils attending schools in reception areas for half a day only shall participate in the further educational activities which take place outside the school premises during the other half of the day?

Mr. Lindsay

Yes, Sir. It is open to a local education authority under Article 21 {a) of the Code to ask His Majesty's Inspector to approve general arrangements under which certain activities which are to be included in the school time-table are held elsewhere than on the school premises. This is being done in a number of cases and a full-day school time-table thereby provided. My Noble Friend hopes that such arrangements will be made wherever circumstances permit.

Mr. Ede

Would it be sufficient to have in the time-table the entry "out-of-school activities" or "extra-mural studies"? Is it not difficult to devise a more elaborate time-table beforehand owing to the vagaries of the British climate?

Mr. Lindsay

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman, but I have seen excellent time-tables made out in the countryside, and I think there is a reasonable give and take between His Majesty's inspectors and the schools.