CHOICE OF SCHOOL [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—Miss
Addison-Phillips is perhaps quite right in saying in her recent letter in your columns, " The parent who prefers a private school education is especially in need of some criterion by which he may test the schools he is considering, some guide to help him make his decision." Where he is to find it is quite another questions for when your correspondent asserts that " such a criterion exists " in the enrolment of an inspected and approved school on the list of efficient Secondary Schools issued by the Board of Education, her statement at the best is only a half truth and is open to serious objection. This will be seen at once by reference to the Explanatory Note at the beginning of " List 6o," the list to which the writer refers. This clearly states, " A certain number of Secondary. Schools and a large proportion of the Preparatory Schools of known and high efficiency have never applied to the Board for inspection, and consequently no inference as to its efficiency or inefficiency can be drawn from the fact of a School not appearing in the list." Where is then the criterion ?
No one would be so foolish as to deny that inclusion in " List 6o " marks efficiency, but it in no sense marks a school as suitable for any particular boy or girl. Moreover, all who understand the method of inspection and recognition adopted by the Board of Education are fully aware that two types of schools, and these two only, are " recognised " and placed on the list. One is the school giving a full secondary course for the First Schools Certificate and beyond, and the other the preparatory school proper. Only schools strictly belonging to one of these two categories can hope for recognition. The Board of Education in no circumstances can recognise, say, a school chiefly preparatory, but with a small secondary " top " ; yet, such a school may be thoroughly efficient within its limits, and indeed most suitable for a particular type of child.
The Independent Schools Association Incorporated, of which body, as editor of its journal, I am an officer, has always encouraged its members to seek recognition from the Board for inclusion in " List 6o," when their schools belong to either of the categories mentioned. At the same time, the Executive of the I.S.A.I. strongly resents any statement, as grossly unfair, which may suggest that a school not on " List 6o " is necessarily inefficient and therefore to be avoided.—Yours faithfully,
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