§ 21. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Education whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider and report on examinations for secondary schools.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. Interested bodies are now studying Circular 289 and I am awaiting their comments.
§ Mr. JohnsonWould the Minister not agree that he has constantly been saying for months, if not years, now that the secondary modern school is the school of the future? Would it not help, in view of his hope to raise the school-leaving age to 16 in 1957—he hopes to raise it to 16 in 1957—if secondary modern schools had some examination in future?
§ Sir D. EcclesI ought to say at once that no decision of any kind has been taken about raising the school-leaving age to 16—[Interruption]—not within the near future, anyway. [HON. MEMBERS: "Not now."] My own views on examinations were published in Circular 289 for discussion, and I think it is only fair that the many eminent bodies studying it should have a chance to comment on them.