§ Mr. NEWBOULDasked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state, separately, the total cost of maintaining the State-aided public elementary schools and the State-aided secondary schools, and the total number of scholars in each, showing, if possible, the average cost per scholar in both types of school?
§ Mr. FISHER1. The estimated expenditure of local education authorities (from rates and grants) on State-aided public elementary schools in England and Wales for 1920–21 is £58,710,000. The average attendance in these schools is
2094Wavailable relate to the statistical year 1913–14, and are as follow:—
estimated at 5,220,000. The average cost per scholar is, therefore, £11 5s.
2. As regards State-aided secondary schools in England and Wales, I have no up-to-date figures. I think, however, that the average cost per child of educating the 335,000 pupils at present in attendance at grant-aided secondary schools, which has to be met from rates, grants, fees, and endowments, is in the neighbourhood of £30 per annum.