§ Mr. MILLSasked the President of the Board of Education the number of places available to scholars in secondary schools who qualified by competitive examination in 1921, as compared with a similar period in 1913; how many scholars for whom fees are paid are being taught in secondary schools; and the number of scholars who pass the examination test for whom there is no room in these schools?
§ Mr. FISHEROut of a total of 187,647 pupils in grant-earning secondary schools on 1st October, 1913, 61,266 were free-place scholars admitted as a result of a competitive examination. The corresponding figures for 1st October, 1921, were 360,615 and 121,646. The number of fee-paying scholars on the latter date was 238,969. I have no information to show the number of pupils who qualified for admission, but were excluded for lack of accommodation.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Urban District of Mitcham is the poorest urban area in the administrative County of Surrey and that, while it contains only about 6½ per cent. of the population of the administrative county as defined for purposes of elementary education, it has about 10 per cent. of the total number of elementary school children educated by the Surrey County Education Committee; whether he appreciates that, in the light of the circumstances, the secondary school for boys recently sanctioned there by the Board will be disadvantageously circumscribed in its influence by the stipulation made by the Board of Education that not more than 25 per cent. of its scholars are to be free placers; and if he will withdraw the stipulation for that obtaining in the other secondary schools of the same county, namely, that the number of free placers admitted in a year shall be not less than 25 per cent. of the previous year's entrants?
§ Mr. FISHERI am familiar with the circumstances of this case, and the Board are in communication with the Surrey Local Education Authority upon it. Under existing financial restrictions I should find it difficult to justify an1706W increase in the percentage of free places awarded in excess of 25 per cent. unless it can be shown that the increase is covered by a corresponding decrease in other schools in the area of the authority.