HC Deb 24 April 1969 vol 782 c637
15. Mr. Silvester

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of all-through comprehensive schools in England at the latest available date; and what was the total number of mathematics, physics and chemistry graduates in those schools.

Miss Bacon

In January, 1968, there were 441 all-through comprehensive schools in England, compared with 313 a year earlier. In March, 1967, the latest date for which the staffing figures are available, there were in such schools 507 graduates in mathematics; 239 graduates in physics; and 314 graduates in chemistry.

Mr. Silvester

is it not disturbing that the proportion of tuition in these subjects given to fifth, sixth and seventh years, which is given by graduates trained in the subjects, is consistently lower in comprehensive schools than it is in grammar schools? In view of the shortage of the output in these subjects, is not that another reason for regarding the pace of comprehensivisation as being too fast?

Miss Bacon

On the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary Question, I would take the contrary view. The quicker we can get comprehensive schools established, the more we shall get the transfer of science graduates into those schools.