HC Deb 22 July 1929 vol 230 cc919-20W
Mr. HARRIS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that nearly 1,000 boys have this year found it impossible to enter a training college although they wish to do so and have passed the admission tests; whether he will explain the apparent lack of college accommodation and state what steps, if any, the Government propose to take to remedy this matter; and whether he can give the number of training colleges for men and for women students, respectively, with their aggregate accommodation?

Sir C. TREVELYAN

I am aware that not all the applicants for entrance to the men's training colleges have succeeded in securing admission, but I am doubtful whether the number was as high as the hon. Member suggests. In view of the figures published last year regarding the number of teachers obtaining employment on leaving the training college, the amount of the available college accommodation appears to have been sufficient up to the present. To meet the increased demands which will result from the raising of the school leaving age, I have in- vited the training colleges to make proposals for increasing the number of their students for the next two years. The number of recognised training colleges with the number of students in training in the current year is as follows:

  • 17 men's colleges with 2,252 students.
  • 64 women's colleges with 7,953 students.
  • 27 colleges for men and women with 3,275 men and 4,044 women students.