HC Deb 19 May 1960 vol 623 cc123-4W
49. Mr. Ainsley

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of premature grammar school leavers each year, over the past five years, to the latest convenient date.

Sir D. Eccles

The hon. Member will see from the following figures that the percentage of the age group leaving early is steadily diminishing.

Educational Year Number of pupils leaving maintained grammar schools in England and Wales before the age of 16 Estimated percentage of admission age group
1954–55 … 15,214 16.0
1955–56 … 14,117 15.0
1956–57 … 12,327 13.5
1957–58 … 11,410 11.4
1958–59 (provisional) … 10,777 10.3