§ Mr. MASSIEasked the President of the Board of Education what are the sufficient grounds on which the Board of Education have reduced the proportion of free places in Berkhamsted Grammar School?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board have allowed a percentage of free places under Article 20 of the Regulations for Secondary Schools, smaller than the percentage of 25 normally required under that Article, to be offered in the case of this school principally on the grounds of the financial circumstances of the school and the comparatively large proportion of boarders in attendance.
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§ Mr. MASSIEasked the President of the Board of Education whether Berkhamsted School is the only place of higher education available for boys of the elementary school class in Berkhamsted and the adjacent towns and villages, comprising a population of 40,000; what is the present number of such scholars attending the school, and what number of applicants of this class have been refused admission during the last school year; and whether, seeing that the scheme under which the school is governed provides that if there is not room in the school for all boys found fit for admission, preference shall be given to the children of inhabitants of Berkhamsted, he will say whether the Board of Education is satisfied that this rule is being obeyed?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Berkhamsted Grammar School is the only school recognised under the Board's Regulations for secondary schools which is conveniently available for boys resident in Berkhamsted and the immediate neighbourhood. The number of pupils in attendance at the school during the school year 1908–9 who had during the two years preceding their admission been in attendance at public elementary schools was 28. I do not know whether any applicants of this class have been refused admission during the last school year. The Board have no grounds for supposing that the provisions of the scheme regulating the admission of boys to the school are not being fully complied with.