§ 1. Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Education how many boys and girls left secondary grammar schools during the school year 1952–53 without taking the General Certificate of Education.
§ The Minister of Education (Miss Florence Horsbrugh)Information on this particular point is not available, but 8,124 boys and 9,835 girls left grant-aided grammar schools in England and Wales during the educational year ending 31st July, 1953, before reaching the age of 16 years.
§ Mr. MorleyWhat steps is the right hon. Lady taking to persuade children to remain longer in the grammar schools?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe position is improving, and I am glad to say that there is a steady fall in the proportion of those who leave early. In 1953, the number of children who left before the age of 16 represented 18 per cent. of all those who left grant-aided schools in the year, and is a smaller percentage than ever before.