Examination fees, headmasters, headmistresses and parents should note, are in
future to be a la carte instead of table d'hôte. Hitherto the various examining bodies have charged inclusive fees averaging (for there are slight differences between the universities) £2 5s. for the School Certificate and £3 for the Higher Certificate. With the advent of the General School Certificate in 1950 all that is p be changed. The fee is to be so much per subject, and three a the principal examining bodies have fixed it at los. for the General Certificate at ordinary level, Lx at advanced level and 30s. at scholarship level.' Ordinary level corresponds broadly to the present School Certificate, in which it is common for candidates to take anything up to nine subjects or even more. The nine have cost the inclusive Li 5s. in the past ; in the future that number will cost £4 los., or precisely double. So with the more advanced exams. School authorities are concerned, because parents will naturally tend to urge that their children be entered for as few subjects as possible ;' or at any rate only for those in which they are pretty certain of a pass. That means a narrowing of interest and relaxation of effort very much to be regretted. The Ministry of Education, it is fair to say, argue that in any case candidates under the new regime will take only selected subjects, and not take the same subject at different levels in successive years, so that over the school career the examination charges will not amount to more than they do today. All this affects only the independent schools. Parents of children at grant-aided schools pay no examination fees.
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