HC Deb 06 April 1909 vol 3 cc1133-5W
Mr. TALBOT

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any information tending to show that council schools are increasing and voluntary schools decreasing in number; if so, whether he will lay such information upon the Table; and what steps he is prepared to take to ensure equal treatment to both classes of elementary schools.

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I attach a table giving statistics as to the number, accommodation, and average attendance of schools of various classes for the last five years. With regard to the last paragraph of the question, I propose to give such treatment as the law requires to all schools whether council or voluntary.

Table showing for England and Wales the number of Ordinary Public Elementary Schools (excluding schools recognised under section 15 of the Education Act of 1902—about 60 in number), with their Accommodation and Average Attendance, classified according to their religious denomination, for the years 1903–4 to 1907–8, inclusive.
Year. Church of England Schools. Wesleyan Schools. Roman Catholic Schools. Jewish Schools. Other Schools. Total Voluntary Schools. Council Schools.
No. Accommodation. Average Attendance. No. Accommodation Average Attendance. No. Accommodation Average Attendance. No. Accommodation Average Attendance. No. Accommodation Average Attendance. No. Accommodation. Average Attendance. No. Accommodation. Average Attendance.
1903–4 11,817 2,846,666 2,000,754 450 175,892 128,745 1,063 408,293 280,833 13 11,643 10,598 739 246,366 160,746 14,082 3,688,859 2,581,685 6,145 3,172,622 2,554,418
1904–5 11,418 2,761,917 1,996,419 372 142,210 113,963 1,070 412,669 284,746 12 11,358 10,189 780 214,032 138,056 13,652 3,542,186 2,543,373 6,800 3,445,881 2,697,243
1905–6 11,377 2,743,876 1,945,698 345 129,358 98,288 1,064 411,360 286,452 12 11,358 10,066 689 196,480 139,431 13,487 3,492,432 2,479,935 6,980 3,520,093 2,813,680
1906–7 11,274 2,681,442 1,896,946 319 117,047 87,058 1,061 406,137 285,244 12 10,902 9,962 644 178,176 121,076 13,310 3,393,704 2,400,286 7,203 3,651,537 2,881,863
1907–8 11,180 2,624,789 1,856,863 294 105,664 79,754 1,064 401,595 285,949 12 10,755 9,761 602 161,391 110,220 13,152 3,304,194 2,342,547 7,408 3,766,824 2,939,085