HC Deb 27 March 1958 vol 585 cc585-6
41. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education why he will not set up a special committee to study the development and experience of comprehensive schools and make recommendations.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)

Because the experience so far available of comprehensive schools is very limited and my right hon. Friend is in any case doubtful whether the establishment of a special committee would be the best procedure to adopt.

Mr. Swingler

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are now between forty and fifty of these pioneering schools, and that there is tremendous interest in them and also widespread controversy about them? Would it not be of value to set up a committee to investigate the facts relating to the progress and development of these schools, and to make an objective report which would give guidance to local education authorities who are interested in trying to develop comprehensive education?

Sir E. Boyle

It is important to remember that, of the forty-four comprehensive schools which exist, only eleven have been in existence for as long as five years. In any case, a variety of interesting experiments in secondary education are now being tried, and my right hon. Friend thinks that it would be premature to single out one form for study by a special committee.

Mr. M. Stewart

Is the hon. Member aware that, to judge from its annual reports, his Ministry has so far paid very little attention to this very important educational development? If my hon. Friend's suggestion does not appeal to him, will he consider other ways in which his Ministry can inform itself and the public more fully on the matter?

Sir E. Boyle

Certainly we in the Ministry are very interested in all experiments concerned with trying out selective and non-selective streams of children within the same chool. I can assure the hon. Member of that.