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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the school health service but by virtue of
an agreement required by Section 32 of the London Government Act 1963 there is joint use by the Authority
and the Borough of professional staff, premises and equipment. The Director of Public Health and Medical
Officer of Health is the Principal School Medical Officer of the Inner London Education Authority for the
area and is responsible to the Authority for the day to day running of the service.
The co-operation, during the year, of the Medical Adviser's department of the I.L.E.A., the local
Divisional Education Officer and his staff and Head Teachers of the schools in the Borough has been much
appreciated.
HEALTH OF THE SCHOOL CHILDREN
During the year 40.8% (39.5%) of children on the school roll were examined as a routine and only
0.2% (0.1%) of the children examined were thought to be in unsatisfactory physical condition.
MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
The following classes of pupils were called up during the year for medical inspections to which parents
were invited:-
(a) "Entrants" to infants' schools (as soon, as possible after admission) (except at 2 schools in the
Borough where Pre-entry medical examinations are held.)
(b) "7 plus" - pupils seen after their transfer to a junior school except at 10 schools in the Borough
where only selected pupils were seen.
(c) "11 plus" - pupils seen after their transfer to a secondary school. Boys were tested for colour
vision at this inspection.
(d) "14 plus" - these pupils were seen as early as possible in the term before the one by the end of
which they would reach statutory school leaving age. This was the "leaver" examination for those pupils
who intended to leave school at 15 years of age, at which the medical report to the Careers Service was
completed.
(e) Older "leavers" - pupils who were still in attendance after attaining 15 years of age were inspected
again as early as possible in the term prior to that in which they would be leaving school, when their medical
report to the Careers Service was completed.
(f) Any pupils who were due for examination in 1968, but who were not seen.
NURSERY SCHOOLS AND NURSERY CLASSES
All pupils were medically inspected on admission and annually thereafter.
Each pupil was examined by the school nurse each term in which a medical inspection was not carried
out. School nurses visited weekly; but made more frequent visits in emergencies.
SPECIAL SCHOOLS
In addition to the routine medical examinations all pupils at special schools were seen by the school
doctor, specialist or consultant (as was appropriate) at least once a year in respect of their "special defect".
PRE-ENTRY MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
As previously stated, medical examinations of infant school children normally took place as soon as
possible after their admission to school. However, at two schools in the Borough medical examinations were
arranged, as an experiment, to take place before actual admission to school. Of course,the pre-school medical
examination could not be regarded as a condition of entry to the schools concerned and some children were
admitted to school before their medical examination could be arranged.
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