§ Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Education how many boys and girls in the year 1951 left secondary and all-age schools for paid employment at the age of 14 years; and for what types of employment it is possible for boys and girls to leave school under the compulsory school-leaving age.
§ Miss Horsbrugh33,700 boys and 32,000 girls who left maintained or assisted schools in the year ended 31st July, 1951, for paid employment or196W employment at home were 14 on the last date they attended. Most of these pupils had their fifteenth birthday during the school holidays following their last term at school and did not, therefore, leave while under the age for compulsory school attendance.
The only circumstances in which a pupil may be excepted from the normal attendance requirements are those covered by Section 115 of the Education Act, 1944.