HC Deb 12 December 1956 vol 562 cc62-3W
Mr. Skeffington

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of students enrolled and their age groups in September-October, 1956, in establishments of further education in England and Wales for each of the following types of course, namely: full time, sandwich, part-time, and evening, in science, engineering and craft subjects; and how these figures compare with those for the years 1954–55 and 1953–54.

Sir D. Eccles

The information available is given in the following table. The returns for 1955–56 are not yet complete, and those for 1956–57 will not be rendered by the colleges until next year. I cannot divide students by ages, or show

DAY COURSES
Number of students
Full-time
Sandwich Other Part-time day
1953–54 1954–55 1953–54 1954–55 1953–54 1954–55
Engineering 746 1,355 6,198 6,100 131,376 146,221
Science 69 71 3,457 3,102 10,791 11,010

EVENING CLASSES
Number of enrolments
1953–54 1954–55
Mathematics and natural sciences:
Mathematics (including practical mathematics) 277,673 288,297
Biology 4,816 5,469
Botany 2,119 2,087
Chemistry 32,024 34,089
Geology 1,149 1,322
Metallurgy (non-ferrous) 168 139
Metallurgy (General) 6,079 6,199
Nature Study 671 599
Physics (including applied mathematics) 38,912 40,677
Physiology 3,195 3,464
Zoology 1,571 1,795
General Science 42,023 45,245
TOTALS 410,400 429,282

Engineering and allied industries:
Metal manufacture 4,734 5,062
Engineering 194,760 202,057
Electrical and wireless engineering 67,473 68,463
Aeronautical and allied subjects 1,149 1,176
Watch, clock and instrument making 1,448 1,708
TOTALS 269,564 278,466
N.B.—The figures for evening classes represent enrolments, not individual students. If a student enrols for e.g., two classes he is counted twice in these figures. Some of these students also attended during the day, and are therefore included also in the statistics for day courses.