§ 25. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education when the Homefields Preparatory School, Cheam, Surrey, was last visited by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools; and what report was received by her.
§ Miss HorsbrughHomefield School was last inspected in May, 1932. The report indicated that the standard of work was satisfactory, and the school was placed upon the list of preparatory schools recognised by the Board as efficient.
§ Mr. ThomasIn view of the fact that this school now openly practices a colour bar, and that a child has been refused admission because its parents are Indian and English, will the Minister now withdraw recognition, because that sort of action is alien to the whole principle on which our education services are founded?
§ Miss HorsbrughI think that the hon. Member is asking me to answer his next Question, No. 26.
§ Mr. ThomasThat is another Question.
§ 26. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education what account she takes of the existence of a colour bar in deciding whether to recognise an independent preparatory school.
§ Miss HorsbrughWhen deciding whether to recognise a school as efficient under rule 16 the question is whether it provides a suitable education of a sufficiently high standard in adequate premises for the pupils who are attending it.
§ Mr. ThomasIs the Minister aware that if the school referred to in my previous Question is creating social prigs, if it is encouraging a colour bar, it cannot be satisfactory to decent people; and will she not recognise that the least she can do is to give public expression to the offence which this headmaster has created?
§ Miss HorsbrughAs Minister of Education, I think I must keep to what is the statutory duty of the Minister on this subject of recognition. The very fact that the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention to this matter will bring it more to the notice of the public, but it is clear that the Minister of Education has no authority to say who should be admitted to a school. The recognition of efficiency is of efficiency in the actual education provided.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWhatever may be the Minister's statutory duty, will she not express to the headmaster her own and the Government's disapproval of his action?
§ Miss HorsbrughI think I should have to look into that further, because the Minister has no control over independent schools as to who are admitted. We must be clear about this: the actual recognition of efficiency that is being discussed is a recognition of efficiency as laid down very clearly in the rules as to the recognition of efficiency. I do not think that I can go beyond what is laid upon me.
§ Mr. GriffithsWill the Minister not do what I am sure the whole House and the country would desire her to do—withdraw recognition from this school?
§ Miss HorsbrughMay I try to make it plain to the right hon. Gentleman? All I can do as Minister of Education is to recognise as efficient the educational standard in the school. I have looked into this very carefully and that is the only power I have. If the education comes up to standard, and if there are adequate premises, that is where my responsibility for recognition of efficiency begins and ends.
§ Mr. G. ThomasIn view of the unsatisfactory and disturbing nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that at the earliest possible moment I shall seek to raise this matter in the House.