§ Mr. GROVESasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the report of an inspector of his Department of 25th May, in reference to Elmhurst Road council school, in the county borough of West Ham, states that the school is too small to allow of the provision of a special class for backward girls; and whether he proposes any alterations to remedy such a state of affairs?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Report in question refers not to the size of the school premises but to the difficulty of organising a school in which, although there are considerable differences in the abilities of the scholars, the total numbers in attendance are not sufficient to enable parallel classes to be formed. I will instruct His Majesty's inspector to discuss the organisation of the school with the local education authority.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the Report of his inspector, dated 13th May, 1925, in respect to his visit to the North Street school of the county borough of West Ham; whether he is aware that the Report states that the lowest two classes are taught under difficulties. there being 60 children on the books and are side by side in one room, and the teaching of the babies interferes with that of the other class; and whether, in view of the difficulties of this borough, he can make any recommendations and grant further financial assistance in order to mitigate these hardships?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, I have already drawn the attention of the local authority to the defects in the premises of this and other schools, but the suggestion that special financial assistance should be afforded is one which I cannot accept.