§ Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in 1930–31 10,331 pupils left primary schools or departments unexempted; if he will state how many of these were pupils who removed to other districts and were not traced; and whether instructions will be given that in future each such pupil shall be provided with a record of attainments on leaving, which record shall be asked for by and delivered to the head master of the school to which the pupil transfers, and to ensure that all pupils leaving shall in future be traced and continuity thus given to their education?
§ Mr. WESTWOODThe figure quoted by the hon. Member is the number of242W non-exempted pupils under 14 years of age who left school during the year 1929–30 and were not definitely known to have re-enrolled in another school. The available records do not distinguish between the children who died or emigrated and those who removed to other districts and were not traced to a particular school. I may say, however, that record cards as required by Statute are issued in all education areas to unexempted pupils who leave school before the age of 14 and, as there is no reason to suspect that such pupils escape the notice of the attendance officers in the districts to which they remove, my right hon. Friend does not think further instructions in, the matter are needed.
§ Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that out of 42,024 primary pupils who had qualified for enrolment in an advanced division only 9,731 or about 23 per cent. obtained day-school certificates, namely, 8,849 lower, being 512 less than in the previous year, and 882 higher, being 78 more than in the previous year; and what steps are proposed to be taken to ensure a higher percentage of passes in future?
§ Mr. WESTWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I may point out that, although the net reduction in the number of certificates is only about 4 per cent., the corresponding reduction in the basic figure quoted by the hon. Member is about 9 per cent. The courses of instruction in advanced divisions are being continuously scrutinised and developed and the organisation of, and facilities for, such instruction are being improved, with the result that the percentage of certificates gained is steadily increasing.
§ Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils in the secondary departments, including advanced divisions, who last year sat for leaving certificates with the view of qualifying for the full university entrance examination, for which two on the higher grade and two on the lower grade are necessary; how many of these succeeded in passing with the qualifications necessary for university entrance; how many of the 3,055 pupils who obtained leaving certificates in 219 schools passed only in a group of subjects, insufficient for uni- 243W versity entrance; and how many passed in only one subject?
§ Mr. WESTWOODAs the Department have no information regarding the ultimate object which candidates at the leaving certificate examination have in view, I am unable to reply to the first and second parts of the question. The information asked for in the last part could be obtained only from an examination of the record of each of the 3,055 successful candidates. Moreover, the groups of subjects, in which passes are necessary for university entrance, is a matter that rests with the authorities of the university which it is desired to enter.