§ Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what experiments have been conducted regarding the lengthening of the school day for pupils aged 14 to 16 years.
§ Mr. MulleyFollowing a recommendation in the Newsom Report—"Half Our Future", 1963—local education authorities in many parts of the country—for example Northumberland, West Riding, Bristol, Kent, ILEA—experimented with third session days for secondary pupils. Among other things the extended day enabled some pupils to do their homework, or to take part in recreational or athletic activities, to devote more time to a practical or weak subject or to explore a favourite one in greater depth. Opportunities offered by the extended day are now sometimes found in community schools.
The extended day experiments were confined to schools where the staff and the LEA both agreed they should be introduced. My Department does not have 68W details of every school where an extended day was, or now is, in operation.