§ Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education (1) if there has been an increase or decrease in the total number of scholars in secondary schools in which boys and girls are taught together, and whether he can assign any reasons for any change since the last Annual Report for 1909–10 in which the numbers were stated; and (2) in what number of secondary schools recognised as efficient boys and girls are taught together; and whether in the next Annual Report the figures of mixed classes will be given as in the Annual Report for 1909–10?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEThere were 232 among the 1,037 secondary schools in England and Wales recognised as efficient during the school year 1909–10, in which boys and girls were taught together either in all or in some of the forms of the school. There were, in these 232 schools, 32,764 pupils. Of these 232 schools, two have been closed, three have become schools for boys or girls only, one has been split up into two separate schools (boys and girls respectively), and in one other boys and girls are now taught separately throughout. There are 262 schools among the 1,110 recognised as efficient for the1854W current school year in which boys and girls are taught together in all or some of the forms, and there are 39,891 pupils in these schools. Thirty-three schools, in which boys and girls are taught together either in all or in some of the forms of the school, have been placed on the Grant list since the year 1909–10. The increase is mainly attributable to the establishment of new schools in districts in which the small number of the inhabitants, the demands of proper school organisation and financial necessities render it difficult to establish efficient secondary schools for boys and girls separately. The figures showing the numbers of mixed classes have not been given in the Report of 1911–12, which will be published next week.