34. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Education if she will take steps to ensure that there is a choice of grammar school education in Poynton, where children at the present time have to attend the Macclesfield school, in view of the inadequate transport facilities to Macclesfield.
§ Miss HorsbrughNo. I understand that there are trains between Poynton and Higher Poynton and Macclesfield which are quite convenient for the journeys both to and from the Macclesfield grammar schools.
Air Commodore HarveyIs my right hon. Friend aware that if she studies the time-table she will see that a child who misses one train will arrive several hours late? It should be possible to arrange for a bus. This is an urgent requirement.
§ Miss HorsbrughI know that trains from Poynton and Higher Poynton leave at 8.12 and 8.22, but I have not taken into account how the child would fare if she missed the train. As to the point about a bus, I think the first thing would be to see locally what arrangement can be made.
35. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Education if she will see that further provision is made for primary education at Poynton, where the classes are overcrowded, in particular with regard to the fact that there is a steady increase of population in this area, whose educational needs will have to be catered for.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe provision of school accommodation is a matter in the first instance for the local education authority. I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I have further information.
Air Commodore HarveyIs my right hon. Friend aware that we have been corresponding for several months, and the letters have been read by local authorities, which are not satisfied? They would like something done in the matter.
§ Miss HorsbrughAs I have said, it is for the local authorities to discuss the particular problems with me, and I will certainly see what can be done.
36. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Education the future arrangements for the provision of day technical schools in or near Poynton.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe education authority's long-term development plan proposes the provision of technical courses, both in the new secondary modern school that is to be provided, when circumstances allow, in Poynton, and in the secondary grammar schools serving the area. I have suggested to the authority that this aspect of their plan requires further consideration.
Air Commodore HarveyWill my right hon. Friend stress that if British industry is to compete with foreign industry we must have good technical education? There is not a single day technical school in Cheshire. Will my right hon. Friend treat the matter as one of utmost urgency?
Miss HorsbrnghA domestic science course for girls and a combined technical and rural study course for boys are available at the Poynton Secondary Modern School. At the Macclesfield Grammar School for Girls there are commercial and domestic science courses and a pre-nursing course is to be instituted next autumn. At the King's School in Macclesfield there is a technical course in light engineering for boys.