HC Deb 20 October 1949 vol 468 cc733-4
16. Mr. Piratin

asked the Minister of Education what is the percentage of young people leaving school and going to university from secondary modern schools, secondary technical schools, local education authority maintained grammar schools and independent schools, respectively.

Mr. Tomlinson

The proportion of pupils leaving maintained and assisted secondary grammar schools who proceeded to universities in 1947–48 was 6 per cent.: the proportion of those leaving direct grant schools was 9.5 per cent. As might be expected in view of the normal school leaving age, the percentage from secondary modern and technical schools was negligible. I have no comparable figures for independent schools.

Mr. Piratin

Is it not important that the Minister should try to get information about the percentage of children who leave independent schools and go to universities?

Mr. Tomlinson

The proportion is still roughly what it used to be, but we hope to see changes.

Mrs. Manning

Does the Minister think that the figures indicate the number of children who are capable of benefiting by a university education?

Mr. Tomlinson

No, the figures do not relate to the number of children who actually go to universities; they are the number of children who go direct from school. It is fairly obvious that in those circumstances very few would go direct from the secondary modern schools, but many will probably go later on.