§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress 520W secondary schools have made in dealing with the additional number of pupils created by the raising of the school leaving age; and how many schools have had to suspend pupils through lack of facilities.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasCommendable arrangements have been made in providing extra facilities and appropriate courses for pupils staying on as a result of raising the school leaving age. Local education authorities have informed my Department that during September part-time schooling on account of shortages of staff was concentrated in only a few areas, notably inner London, and was limited to 22 of the 4,870 maintained secondary schools in the whole of England. There were also difficulties in a very few schools because buildings were not completed on time.