BOARD OF EDUCATION. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION UNDER THE WELSH INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION ACT, 1889 (52 & 53 Vict., c. 40), FOR THE YEAR 1928. I. AMENDMENT OF COUNTY SCHEME. The Merionethshire County Scheme was amended in order to remove the limit on boarding fees and to enable increased tuition fees to be charged with the approval of the Board of Education after consultation with the Local Education Authority. II. TREASURY GRANT. The Treasury Grant, payable under Section 9 of the Welsh Act for the educational year 1927-28, was claimed in aid of the 99 County Schools which are eligible to receive the grant. In addition to these 99 schools, Dr. Williams' School for Girls at Dolgelley and the Howell's Glamorgan County School at Llandaff, although not entitled to a grant, were inspected and examined, as required by the Schemes under which they are carried on, making the total number of schools open to inspection and examination 101. Of these, 21 were schools for boys, 23 schools for girls, and 57 schools for boys and girls. These figures are the same as those for 1926-27. During the educational year 1927-28, 101 County Schools were inspected under the direction of the Central Welsh Board, in compliance with the Treasury Regulations. Nine schools in the Counties of Denbigh and Merioneth, two schools in the County Borough of Cardiff, and one school in the County Borough of * (21)712(29704) W 27060-123 1125 5/29 (Item 1) A 2 Merthyr Tydfil were visited for the purposes of a full inspection; 89 were visited for the purposes of the subsidiary inspection. Upon consideration of the Central Welsh Board's Reports on the result of their inspection and examination the Board of Education were able finally to report to the Treasury that the conditions required to be fulfilled by a school in order to obtain a grant under the Welsh Act had been fulfilled in respect of all the schools eligible to receive the grant. III. STATISTICAL TABLES. The usual tables will be found in the Appendix hereto. The number of pupils in the Intermediate Schools in 1927-28 was 25,163, an increase of 289 on the previous year. The following table shows the increase or decrease in each year over the preceding year since 1914-15. The numbers, which declined after 1921-22, have not only recovered, but now exceed the previous highest figure. In 1927-28 10 counties and 3 county boroughs showed increases in numbers. On the other hand, there were decreases in the numbers of the boys in 3 out of the 17 areas, and of the girls in 7 of the areas. In considering these figures, it should be borne in mind that the other grant-earning secondary schools in Wales also show a considerable increase in the numbers of pupils. This means that the number of pupils in attendance at all grant-earning schools in the Principality still continues to grow. The largest school has 516 pupils; and the smallest 59 pupils. V. SCHOOL LIFE. The following information shows the present position, as regards the age at leaving, in Welsh Intermediate Schools:Number of Full-time Pupils who left during the School Year It will be observed that no less than 2,481 pupils out of the total of 5,908 leavers, or 42.0 per cent., left before they attained the age of 16; the percentage being the same for both boys and girls. In 1926-27 the corresponding percentages were 42.6 for the boys and 40.2 for the girls. The position in 1927-28 was thus slightly worse in the case of the girls than in the previous year. Prior to 1926-27 there had been a general improvement in this respect, as is shown below: Number and percentage of Pupils who left Welsh Intermediate Schools between the ages of 14 and 16 years. VI. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS. The subjoined list gives details of proposals for capital expenditure on Intermediate Schools finally approved by the Board of Education during the year 1928. Caernarvon County (i) Partitioning As- £300. Loan. 60 Penygroes County (i) Four classrooms £2,692. Loan - 100 and conversion of two classrooms into Assembly Hall, and Portmadoc County (i) Two classrooms, £1,800. Loan £1,500. Loan 95 tions. Llandovery County Joint Hall and Gym- £5,196. Loan Haverfordwest Site for playing field £410. Loan. County School (Girls). B 2 |