§ Mr. EDWARDSasked the President. of the Board of Education whether instructions have been issued to local education authorities to further increase the number of children in the classes; and whether, seeing that there is so much unemployment in the teaching profession, he will counteract this order?
Mr. WOODThe Board's view of the need for economy in the staffing of public Elementary Schools is stated in the Prefatory Memorandum to the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools, paragraph 3, to which I am drawing the attention of those local education authorities who appear to be concerned. This action is necessary under present conditions, but every case will be considered upon its merits, and I have no intention either of asking for or agreeing to reductions which would seriously impair the efficiency of the schools.
§ Mr. EDWARDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that inspectors in Wales are suggesting in schools visited by them that the staff is too large and could be reduced; whether this is part of their duty; and whether any orders have been issued by the Board instructing them to do so?
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Mr. WOODI may refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given to the last question. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, I may refer him to the answer I gave on the 22nd March to the hon. Member for West Rhondda (Mr. John).
§ Mr. EDWARDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether instructions have been sent out to the effect that head masters in schools where there are less than 250 children should be responsible for one class in addition to supervising the whole school; and whether, seeing there is so much unemployment in this profession, he will take steps to counteract this decision?
Mr. WOODThe Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools contains in Article 8 (b) the provision that the head teacher should take a definite and substantial share in the actual instruction, and that the local education authority should consider whether, in a school or department with an average attendance less than 250, it is not practicable to give the head teacher charge of a class. And in the Prefatory Memorandum to the Code the Board have stated that, where the head teacher of such a school is not in direct charge of a class, they will consider whether reasonable economy has been used in the staffing of the school as a whole. I do not propose to depart from this position.