§ 26. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Education the teacher-pupil ratio in the independent grammar schools, the direct grammar schools and the State grammar schools, respectively.
§ Sir E. BoyleIn January, 1957, the pupil-teacher ratios in maintained grammar schools, direct grant grammar schools and independent secondary schools recognised as efficient were 18:1, 18:2 and 12:1 respectively. Nearly three-quarters of the pupils in the last-named schools are boarders.
§ Dr. KingSince the Government claim, as we do, to believe in equality of opportunity as between child and child, how can the Minister justify the disparities in the teacher-pupil ratio, not on educational grounds, but on social grounds? What steps is he taking to remove that disparity?
§ Sir E. BoyleThe short answer surely is that there is the world of difference between levelling down and levelling up. I have answered one or two earlier Questions today about the urgency with which 1575 the Government regard the problem of teacher supply generally. It is important, however, to remember that the majority of independent schools to which I have referred are boarding schools. In all boarding schools, including maintained boarding schools, staff ratios always tend to be higher.