ON THE INFLUENCE OF EXAMINATIONS. 361 
The question of examinations has entered upon a new phase, and a 
more hopeful situation has been created by the issue, on July 12 last, by 
the Board of Education, Whitehall, of suggestions for a system of school 
certificates which have been submitted to the Board by the Consultative 
Committee. It is to be noted that the Board refrain, in offering the 
scheme for public criticism, from the expression of any view as to the 
desirability or feasibility of the proposals—and are not at present com- 
mitted to any action in the matter, 
The Scotch Education Department has long granted leaving certi- 
ficates in single subjects ; since 1902 it has given certificates for success 
in groups of subjects. There is a tendency more and more to correlate 
examination with inspection, and to call in the services of the teachers as 
well as to take into account the work done by scholars during their school 
career. 
Examinations are held under the Centra] Welsh Board of Intermediate 
Education, and upon them certificates are granted which meet with a limited 
amount of recognition in lieu of other examinations. The majority of the 
members of the Board are actively engaged in the management of the 
schools under the jurisdiction of the Board, the headmasters and head- 
mistresses having special representation. It is said to be the aim of the 
Board that every school should, as far as possible, be examined on a 
curriculum of its own choice ; schools may accordingly, in each year, 
submit alternatives to the syllabuses of the Board in all or any of the 
subjects. 
Some of the examinations held by the Oxford Delegacy of Local 
Examinations, the Cambridge Syndicate of Local Examinations, and the 
Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board, serve the purpose 
of leaving certificates in a measure, inasmuch as they carry exemp- 
tion from certain qualifying examinations ; but these examinations are 
conducted by boards unconnected with the schools, and do not take into 
cognisance the work of the scholars. 
The University of London has recently put in operation a scheme for 
the award of leaving certificates to scholars in schools under inspection 
approved by the University. 
In none of the English examinations is the opinion of the teacher of 
the pupil’s abilities taken into account in the manner customary in the 
the German Abiturienten-Examen. An interesting account, by Professor 
M. E. Sadler, of the manner in which this examination is conducted in 
the secondary schools of Prussia, will be found in Vol. V. of the Report 
of the Royal Commission on Secondary Education, 1894. 
In the United States certain of the universities have taken a step far 
in advance of European practice by admitting (without examination) 
pupils from recognised high schools.! 
To facilitate comparison, the proposals of the Consultative Committee 
are printed hereafter in full, together with notes on the Scotch leaving 
certificate, the London University scheme, and the remarks made by 
Professors. 
1 Principal Reichel and Dr. Gregory Foster in the Mosely Commission Report on 
the American accrediting system. 
