§ Mr. Mossasked the Minister of Education if he will supply figures to show to what extent the number of young people staying on at school after the school-leaving age has increased over the past few years; and how far he anticipates increases in the next few years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydThe following is the information:—
Number of pupils aged 15 or over in maintained and assisted schools January … … … No. 1954 … … … 228,476 1955 … … … 238,643 1956 … … … 245,810 1957 … … … 258,101 1958 … … … 287,000 1959 … … … 318,600 1960 … … … 361,600 The total number of children aged 15 to 18 was falling slightly between 1954 and 1957. The estimates for 1958 to 1960 take account both of the estimated increase in the size of the 15–18 age-groups and also assume the continuance of the recent trend towards more staying on at school.