§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the President of the Board of Education, if he will state what is the number of higher grade primary schools in England and Wales; the number of pupils attending; and the total amount of State grant voted for their upkeep during the year ended March, 1910?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not quite understand what the hon. Member means by "higher grade primary schools." There is considerable diversity of curriculum between public elementary schools in different parts of the country and between516W different schools in the same locality. This diversity is the outcome of the attempt to adapt the schools to the needs of scholars as affected by their capacities, the circumstances in which they live, and the probable period of school life. There is no variation of grant except in the case of a small number of schools, known as higher elementary schools, which are distinguished from other public elementary schools not so much by a difference of grade as by a curriculum intended to provide special instruction bearing on the future occupations of the scholars, whether boys or girls.