Mrs. Manningasked the Minister of Education if he will give for the Bristol Grammar School the percentage of entrants to the senior department last September, who had previously attended the preparatory department; and whether he is satisfied that exactly the same test was applied to children from the preparatory department and children from the grant aided primary schools.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe answer to the first part of the Question is, "42.3 per cent." All candidates for "free" or "reserved" places, whether from the preparatory department or elsewhere, are examined by the local education authority. Candidates for "residuary" places, from whatever school they come, are submitted to an examination conducted by the Headmaster, which includes Latin and French for those who have studied these subjects. I am satisfied that there is no discrimination in favour of pupils coming from the preparatory department and that the 19W arrangements serve to select those candidates likely to profit most by the education provided.