IX.-WIDENING THE CURRICULUM. That it is possible to vary the standard curriculum in a Welsh Intermediate School for Boys, so as to provide for the needs of several types of boy, is shown by the success attained by one such school in South Wales. The experience of recent years showed that, although a considerable number of boys went to the Universities, much the greater number went to industry and commerce. It has, therefore, been necessary to plan a curriculum of an elastic character, which will provide technical and commercial courses, in addition to one which will meet general or academic needs. The Headmaster has experimented boldly in order to prepare his boys for the work they may have to do in after life, and has succeeded in developing a true "Sixth Form," with Classical, Modern, Science and Commercial divisions. The success of the Commercial side has been remarkable; although half of the boys who leave to take up posts may have been only four years in the school, there are not a few who have been five or even six years. Another feature of interest is the organisation of languages. In this school, Welsh and French have never been alternative : various devices at different periods have given boys the opportunity of learning both. German is taken in the Advanced Course for Humanistic studies, and Spanish is taken in the Commercial Forms. Greek was started in 1922. Certain boys with linguistic talent have been able to follow an unusually comprehensive course in languages. 66 The school has always been noted for the attention which it has given to the development of artistic feeling and practical skill. Besides the more usual features of a strong corporate school life, such as the division into Houses for games, the Literary and Debating Society, the Dramatic Society, the School Magazine, the School Orchestra, the Field Club, and the Old Boys' Association, the school owes much of its admirable tone to the special cultural lectures given by the Headmaster upon such subjects as Modern English Literature and Modern Literature in general, the Development of Painting, Archæology, the Early Italian Painters, and upon various Loan Collections from the National Museum. Such special studies, together with the existence of good Science and Commercial Courses, help to keep alive the humanistic interest of the Science boys, and to keep the Commerce boys in the school surrounded by its atmosphere of culture and intellectual progress, instead of allowing them to be driven outside to obtain their Certificates of Proficiency. Berryswatting. Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Department. 11th June 1928. APPENDIX. TABLE A. NUMBER of PUPILS on the ROLL of WELSH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS in each Year from 1895-96 to 1926-27.* Howell's Glamorgan County School, Llandaff, and Dr. Williams' School, Dolgelley, are included, the former from 1896-97 only. In the following areas no Intermediate Schools had been established in the period 1895-96: the Counties of Brecon, Glamorgan, Monmouth, Radnor, and the County Borough of Newport. In the County of Radnor no Intermediate Schools had been established in the period 1896-97. TABLE B. NUMBER OF PUPILS on the ROLL of WELSH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS in the several COUNTIES and COUNTY BOROUGHS in the last three Years (1924-25, 1925-26 and 1926-27). County or County Borough. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. Anglesey 418 294 712 421 303 724 422 317 739 Brecon 345 Caernarvon 1,026 Cardigan 511 Carmarthen Denbigh Flint 966 635 Glamorgan Merioneth 579 555 1,134 381 726 378 425 813 920 1,946 1,014 939 2,005 498 1,009 529 467 996 535 485 1,020 1,110 981 2,091 1,117 969 2,086 1,192 1,011 2,203 698 1,664 946 663 1,609 990 699 1,689 503 1,138 681 507 1,188 695 545 1,240 3,123 3,185 6,308 3,306 3,283 6,589 3,506 3,438 6,944 636 627 1,263 606 1,159 1,765 369 720 389 767 388 - 11,708 11,582 23,290 12,098 11,659 23,757 12,718 12 156 24,874 The total numbers of boarders in the three years shown above were 479, 449, and 442 respectively. |