CHAPTER XII.

SUPERANNUATION OF TEACHERS.

I. Scheme for Non-Grant-Aided Schools.

231. The number of applications received from Non-Grant-Aided Schools up to the 31st December, 1927, for approval under the Scheme of 11th October, 1926, made under Section 21 (1) (a) of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, was 160. The number of approved schools on that date was 86. These may be classified as follows:-66 secondary schools, 12 preparatory schools, 4 elementary schools, and 4 schools of other types. The present full-time teaching establishments of these schools comprise about 1,000 teachers. In each case the governing body or proprietors have given an undertaking that the payment of contributions under the Scheme shall be a condition of the service of all teachers (other than those excluded by the provisions of the Scheme) who shall be appointed to full-time service in the school after the date when approval was given. Existing teachers in the schools, however, had an option not to come under the Scheme, and all teachers over the age of 50 at the date of approval of the school who had not previously been in contributory service under the Scheme, as well as all teachers who failed to satisfy the Board of their physical capacity, were excluded. Contributory service under the Scheme counts towards entitlement to benefits as if it were contributory service under the Act. For example, a teacher whose service extends over both grant-aided schools and Scheme schools and whose total service amounts to at least ten years and two-thirds of the number of years between entry on recognised or contributory service (under the Act or Scheme) and attainment of the age of 65, becomes qualified for two pensions, one under the Act on his service in grant-aided schools (based on the average salary for the last five years of such service), and the other under the Scheme on his service in Scheme schools (based on the average salary throughout such service). Qualification for disablement and death benefits may be built up in the same manner, but, in cases of death, only one death gratuity is payable, equal to at least the average salary as above, according as the death occurs in service under the Act or service under the Scheme.

232. Teachers' contributions paid under the Scheme are returnable with compound interest at 3 per cent. in the same way as under the Act-i.e., one year after leaving contributory service (or six months in certain cases of marriage of women teachers), or at death or the age of 65 if the teacher has not qualified for benefits. If the benefits received do not in the aggregate amount to the teacher's

accumulated contributions with interest, the balance of the latter is repaid. Thus a teacher (or his representatives) will receive in any event not less than the value of his contributions with compound interest.

Thus the Scheme not only provides a pension system for teachers serving in schools not in receipt of grants, but facilitates the movement of teachers between grant-aided and " scheme " schools and between "scheme" schools themselves, with considerable preservation of pension rights. It will be some time before the advantages of the arrangement become evident in a concrete form and the matter has to be considered not so much with regard to its immediate effect as with regard to the probable position a number of years hence.

2. Organisers.

233. The number of organising posts maintained by local authorities which have been accepted by the Board under Section 14 of the Act of 1925 up to 31st December, 1927, is 648 (467 held by men and 181 held by women). Not all the occupants of these posts have the requisite three years previous experience as teachers in an approved capacity, and others propose to remain under a local pensions scheme. The result is that 522 of the existing organisers (375 men and 147 women) come under the Act.

Negotiations have taken place between local authorities and organisers withdrawing from local pensions schemes with regard to the terms of recoupment in respect of the organisers' past contributions under the schemes, and the necessary Treasury approval to agreed terms has been sought and obtained in the great majority of cases.

3. Emoluments.

234. On 22nd October, 1926, the Board published an Order enumerating the emoluments which might be treated as salary for the purposes of the Act. The Order was accompanied by Circular 1386. A further explanatory Memorandum was issued on the 2nd February, 1927.

4. Full-time Service.

235. Circular 1390 was issued on the 9th April, 1927, re-affirming the general principle laid down in Circulars 1286 and 1311 as regards the amount of time to be covered by employment which is to be regarded as full-time, but explaining that the provisions of the 1925 Act enabled the Board to take a wider view of what might be regarded as teaching service. The circular also stated that the Board relied on authorities and governing bodies to collect contributions and to make their annual returns on the basis of Circulars 1286 and 1311 as modified by the new Circular, referring dubious cases to the Board as far as possible in advance of such returns.

5. Home Training Centres aided by Grants under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922.

236. On the 12th October, 1927, a draft Scheme was made under Section 21 (1) (b) of the 1925 Act applying Part II of the Act to Home Training Centres aided by grants by the Secretary of State from funds provided under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, subject to the modification that no service in such centres may be treated as contributory service which has not been preceded by recognised or contributory service under the Act or under the Scheme relating to Juvenile Unemployment and Home Training Centres made on the 19th July, 1926.

6. Reciprocity with other Parts of the British Empire.

237. The recommendations of the Imperial Education Conference under this head are referred to in the preceding chapter and are dealt with at length in the report of the Proceedings of the Conference. We need here only remark that the Board have taken steps to draw the attention of Governments of other parts of the Empire to the opportunity which the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, affords for reciprocal action in regard to the superannuation of teachers.

Definite proposals for reciprocal schemes are now under discussion with the Governments of Northern Ireland, Jersey and the Isle of Man. Laws for the Isle of Man and Guernsey corresponding very closely with the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, received Your Majesty's Assent on 27th June, 1927, and 25th July, 1927, respectively.

7. Employers' Contributions.

238. Towards the end of the year a draft of Rules for regulating the payment of contributions by employers from 1st April, 1928, under Section 9 of the Act of 1925 was prepared by the Board and consultations were begun thereon with representatives of local authorities and teachers affected, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17 of the Act.

On 22nd November, 1927, a draft of the Teachers' Superannuation Grant Regulations was laid before Parliament. These Regulations provide for the payment of grant, to the amount of half the employers' contributions in respect of teachers' superannuation, to schools, not maintained by local education authorities, which are in receipt of direct grant, and to schools not otherwise grant-aided which were approved under Section 18 (vii) of the 1918 Act. In the case of the latter, payment of the grant is subject to investigation of the financial position of the school and to periodical reconsideration.

8. Tables.

239. The number and value of the awards made under the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts 1918-1925, during the year ended 31st March, 1927, are shown in the following tables :

The number of teachers in receipt of pensions under the Acts of 1918-25 and 1898-1912, and under the Code on 31st March, 1927, was as follows :—

9. Repayment of Contributions.

240. During the calendar year 1927, 2,085 teachers were granted repayment of the balances of their contributions, amounting to £86,030 6s. 9d., under the Act of 1925. Of these, 1,510 were women who had recently married, 505 were persons who had ceased to be employed in pensionable service for other reasons, 63 were teachers who had died, and 7 were teachers who had attained the age of 65 without having qualified for superannuation allowances or gratuities. During the same period, 130 teachers were granted similar repayments under the Act of 1922, the amount repaid being £3,267 11s. 4d. This number includes 62 women leaving the profession on marriage and 68 other persons.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MUSEUMS.

I. The Victoria and Albert Museum.

241. The Annual Report of the Victoria and Albert Museum is issued as an Appendix to the Museum's Annual Review of Principal Acquisitions.

242. In 1927 the total number of visitors to the Museum, including the Indian Section, was 1,020,006, a decrease of 83,312 on the previous year. The number of visitors on Sundays was 162,982, an increase of 6,135.

243. During the year the following Exhibitions were held under the auspices of the Museum :—

An Exhibition of Posters by the Art Exhibitions Bureau early in the year.

An Exhibition of Modern French Engravings during the period 10th May-10th June.

An Exhibition of Drawings, Prints and Illustrated Books in connection with the Centenary of William Blake in the

summer.

An Exhibition of French and Russian designs for Stage Scenery
and Costume.

An Exhibition of Selected Playbills, etc., from the Gabrielle
Enthoven Collection.

Exhibitions were also held in the North Court by the Civil Service Arts Council from the middle of March until the first week in April; and by the Royal College of Art Sketch Club during the period 29th October to 12th November.

244. Many important objects were acquired during the year, full particulars of which will be found in the Museum's Review of Principal Acquisitions, 1927.

245. A further series of evening lectures, illustrated by lantern slides, was given during the period 13th January to 3rd March, and was continued during the period 27th October to 15th December. A series of concerts under the auspices of the League of Arts was given in the Museum Lecture Theatre during the period 1st October to 17th December.

Miss Spiller again took special parties of children round the Museum during the various school vacations.

246. In the Department of Circulation loans were made to 208 art schools, 26 training colleges and 319 secondary schools. The corresponding figures for 1926 were 210, 28 and 279 respectively.