§ Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Education what were the numbers of entrants to comprehensive schools for the 96W years 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961; and what is the estimated figure for 1962.
§ Sir D. EcclesI estimate that the numbers of entrants to comprehensive schools were about 42,000 in 1958, 39,000 in 1959, and 36,000 in 1960. These include large numbers of pupils continuing to attend schools which became classified as comprehensive schools in each of these years or transferring to new comprehensive schools from other secondary schools. Excluding these pupils, I estimate that the numbers were about 30,000, 31,000 and 31,000 respectively. A corresponding estimate for 1961 is not yet available. I cannot make a reliable forward estimate for 1962.