54 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1918. 
The percentage of free pupils admitted during the year is given: — 
Boys. Girls. 
‘Pee-paying ‘Pupils= "5 72! iJ ee Or ee 7019 69.1 
BreeiEupils era) Aa Seti) 2" e291s 30.9 
These numbers point to the duration of school life being greater 
amongst the free pupils than amongst those who pay fees. 
The Age at which Free Pupils are Admitted. 
‘Statistics of Public Education’ give figures from which the 
following are calculated :— 
Fee Paying. Free Pupils. 
Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. 
Under 9 years of age ie seh tes} 8.9 0.0 0.0 
9andunder 10... 5.9 4.3 2 al 
LON. ae We lier Fai 6.3 2.2 1.5 
Ve as aay ele . : <9 8.9 9.4 8.8 
1 ae a, plane. 4 : . 15.3 14.1 13.0 12.8 
13-3; jp 14 4 - 13.5 13.2 3.9 4.7 
Over 14 . . 9:6 12.2 1d 3.0 
70.2 68.9 29.8 30.9 
In order to compare the age at entry of the two classes it is con- 
venient to obtain a percentage of each separate class. This gives :— 
Fee Paying. Free Pupils. 
Boys. Girls, Boys. Girls. 
Under 9 eee . 11.8 13.0 0.0 0.0 
9 and under 10 . 84 6.2 7 3 
105 Foe - 11.0 9.1 7.3 4.9 
Ty ony oan, ple . 14.1 13.0 315 28.5 
Ua Fe Soy Leo Shee oe Pals) 20.5 43.6 41.4 
Seis eee tite gi eect ges OSS 19.1 13.0 15.2 
Over 14 . ; é : : . 13.6 19.1 3.9 9.7 
100.0 100.0 100 100.0 
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 
N.B.—Dr. Snape was prevented by impaired health from attending the 
meetings of the Committee and preferred, as he had not had the 
opportunity of participating in the discussions, not to sign this report. 
Mr. Bothamley is not in agreement with the terms of Recommenda- 
tion 8, which is therefore put forward in the name of the remaining 
members of the Committee. 
1. The replies received to the questions asked from the various 
authorities prove that the system is, as a whole, acting well in schools 
in which more than 50 per cent. of the pupils are drawn from the 
elementary schools; the difficulties met are almost entirely confined to 
schools with a smaller percentage of ex-elementary school children. 
There is, however, but little doubt that some of the children now holding 
free places would derive greater educational benefit from a course at 
a higher elementary, junior technical, or trade school. 
2. Free places should not be awarded to children entering the 
