§ Sir K. FRASERasked the President of the Board of Education the number of children under the age of 11 attending secondary schools in England; and, seeing that these children are receiving an education which is equivalent to that taught in elementary schools, and that the average cost in elementary schools is £12 per child and in secondary schools £27 a year, what economy will be effected by the transfer of these children to elementary schools?
§ Mr. FISHEROn the 1st October, 1921, the number of pupils in grant-earning secondary schools in England and Wales who were under eleven years of age on the previous 1st August was about 49,500. When allowance is made for the fees now paid by these pupils, and the lower cost of their education as compared with that of older pupils, taking the country as a whole, I am doubtful whether any substantial saving, or, indeed, whether any saving, would be effected by their transfer to public elementary schools. I recognise, however, that the occupation of so large a proportion of the available school places in public secondary schools by young children raises problems of special importance at the present time, and I am giving them my careful consideration in connection with the next issue of the Secondary School Regulations.