66 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF YORK AND DISTRICT 



comprehensive and far-reaching changes it was found necessary to spend 

 a good deal of time in negotiating with the managers of the voluntary 

 schools before agreement could be reached. The first instalment of 

 the York Reorganisation Scheme was put into operation after the mid- 

 summer vacation of 1927. The complete scheme, which is on the lines 

 of the Hadow Report, and now in complete operation, provides that 

 with a few exceptions of infants schools pure and simple, there shall 

 be junior schools for children from 5 to 11 years of age, and there- 

 after the choice of (a) secondary school, (b) higher grade, that is, central 

 selective, or (c) senior, that is, central non-selective school. In the 

 higher grade and senior schools the classes are not allowed to exceed 

 40 scholars. The future type of school for the developing child in his 

 eleventh year is settled in an annual general examination held throughout 

 the city. The direction then taken is not made irrevocable, as provision 

 is made in order that children who prove to be ' late developers ' may 

 change their school at a later age. 



The first instalment of the York scheme provided eight higher grade 

 schools, that is, schools of the type known as Central Selective. It was 

 possible to do this without special building operations, except as regards 

 extension work, by using existing buildings with the necessary adaptation, 

 and without displacing any existing scholars. This consideration neces- 

 sarily meant a transition stage of four years, which has now been completed. 

 The schools of this type are planned to provide a four years' course 

 for children from 11 to 15 years of age. No obstacle, however, is 

 placed in the way of children leaving after the third year, at the age of 

 14 years, but every encouragement is offered for them to stay and complete 

 the fourth year. After the second year the curriculum takes on a bias 

 towards either commercial or technical studies, and science is given a 

 place of importance in the time-table. 



The Board of Education, in conveying their approval to the York 

 Education Committee's scheme of reorganisation, stated that they ' desired 

 to record their appreciation of the comprehensive nature of the scheme 

 which had been carried out.' 



In January 1930 the non-selective central schools were organised, to 

 be known as senior schools. The present number of senior schools is 

 seven, and it is the aim of the Education Committee to give in these 

 schools a type of instruction directed to the needs of the child whose 

 manual ability is more pronounced than the academic. Woodwork and 

 metalwork for the boys, housecraft for the girls, and handicrafts for 

 both, have their appropriate share in the spacing of time in the curriculum. 

 Laboratories for science in the branches of chemistry and physics are 

 provided for all the seniors whether in the senior, higher grade, or secondary 

 school. The remaining schools have been organised as junior schools, 

 that is, to take all children from 5 to 11 years of age, or, in a few cases, 

 as purely infants' schools. 



The eight higher grade or central selective schools are organised in 

 four boys', three girls', and one mixed schools. There are two Church 

 of England, two Roman Catholic, one Wesleyan, and three Council 

 schools. 



