§ Mr. Parkerasked the President of the Board of Education how many selective central schools there are in England and Wales which are recognised by the Board; in what way these schools differ from the ordinary senior or central schools; and in what way their function and status will be affected by the partial raising of the school-leaving age which is due to take effect in 1939?
§ Mr. ShakespeareSo-called selective central schools are not recognised by the Board of Education as such, and I have2930W no list of them which would enable me to give the hon. Member the figure for which he asks. The degree of their selectivity, and the scope of their curricula and aims, would appear to vary considerably; and in the circumstances it is not possible to generalise as to their difference from other senior or central schools, or as to the way in which they will be affected by the raising of the school age to 15.