School Library (continued)

The library is open every lunch hour and after school on three days a week. The boys themselves contribute much to the running of it; they act both as assistant librarians and as library monitors, and receive good training in their duties from the master in charge.

Altogether, in spite of difficulties of space and the need for a wider variety of books, the library plays a valuable part in the life and learning of the school.

Staff

The teaching staff consists of the headmaster, a first-class honours graduate and doctor in German of London University, 36 assistant masters, and two mistresses who give part-time assistance. If the headmaster be reckoned as a full-time teacher and due account be. taken of the service of the women, the staffing ratio is equivalent to one full-time teacher to rather more than eighteen boys. For geography there is some shortage of teaching power, but in general the different departments have sufficient strength to meet the requirements of the present organisation and time allocations. The modern-language staff, however, suffices only because of the rather small amount of time allotted to French and German. Some addition would also be needed to the science staff if biology were to be given a place below the sixth form, since only the part-time mistress has qualifications in this branch of the subject.

The staff is well qualified, and also young, only four of the 39 teachers being aged over forty years. The number of outstandingly skilful teachers is not yet large; on the other hand, there is none who does not achieve a reasonable measure of success in the classroom, and the general level of teaching ability is very satisfactory. With a little more experience, some of the younger members may well become very good teachers indeed. The teachers succeed well in conveying to the pupils their interest in their teaching subjects, and their relations with the boys are good throughout, but perhaps especially with the seniors, whom they look upon as young adults and who respond well to the understanding treatment they receive. They give unstintingly of their time to the extra-curricular activities of the school.

Organisation, Curriculum, and Standard of Work

On entry, boys with especially good records in their primary schools are placed in IA, the others being divided between IB and IC. These first forms have a common curriculum, which includes both French and Latin. Changes between the A form and the others may be made after the half-yearly examinations or at the end of the year.

In the second year the A form continues Latin and the B form starts German. At this stage art and handicraft become alternative subjects for all boys. In the thirds music ceases to be a class subject. It may be taken instead of art or handicraft by boys in the B and C forms, but there is no provision for music or art or handicraft in the curriculum of IIIA, where additional time is devoted to physics and chemistry. At the end of their year in the fourths, the boys of the A form present themselves for the examinations of the General Certificate of Education at the ordinary level. The other fourth forms (B. C, and D at this level), which continue with the

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