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9
the inspections to coincide with the breaks in the child's school life so that the
inspections should fall (i) on entrance to school, (ii) at the age of seven years (first
remove), (iii) at the age of eleven years (second remove), and (iv) at school leaving.
The Council has approached the Board of Education with a view to sanction
being given to the above alterations in the age periods.
Medical inspections at secondary and trade schools.
In the maintained secondary schools medical inspection has been carried out
by the school medical staff over a very long period of years.
The pupils are inspected in detail on entrance, again at the age of 12, and at the
age of 15; in the intervening years the records of all pupils are reviewed, but a detailed
examination is only carried out when there is some special indication or request.
During the year 1929 the nature of the medical services in the rate-aided secondary
schools came under review by the Council. There was found to be a considerable
variation in practice in the different schools. In eleven schools the medical
inspection of scholarship holders was carried out by the Council's doctors while there
was no medical inspection of fee-payers. In nine the medical inspection of scholarship
holders was carried out by the Council's doctors, and of fee-payers by doctors
appointed by the governors. In ten the medical inspection of both scholarship
holders and fee-payers was carried out by the Council's doctors, and in 22 the medical
inspection of both scholarship holders and fee-payers was carried out by doctors
appointed by the governors.
The Council considered it desirable that all pupils (fee-payers and scholars)
should be medically inspected, and the governors of 11 schools, where no medical
inspection of fee-payers was held, were informed that the Council would be prepared
to undertake the work if the governors so desired. It was further considered undesirable
that there should be two doctors attending the same school, one for the inspection
of the Council's scholars and the other for fee-payers.
The regulations governing medical inspection and treatment in the secondary
and trade schools embodying the decision of the Council are as follows :—
(a) Medical inspection and treatment shall be provided for all pupils at
the Council's secondary schools and for pupils holding scholarships or free places
awarded by the Council at secondary schools aided by the Council. On application
being made by the governing body, medical inspection shall be provided
by the Council for fee-paying pupils in aided secondary schools. In addition
to the statutory medical examination on admission, pupils attending the Council's
secondary schools shall be medically examined at 12 and 15 years of age, and
further medical examination shall take place only in cases in which a special
examination appears to be necessary.
(b) In secondary schools at which fee-paying pupils have been inspected by
the Council's medical officers or doctors appointed by the governors, arrangements
shall be made when necessary for such pupils to receive medical treatment
under the Council's scheme, provided that (i) the parents cannot afford to make
private arrangements for the necessary treatment, and (ii) payment is made
therefor.
(c) Foundation scholars in aided secondary schools may receive medical
treatment under the Council's scheme on the same terms as scholarship holders.
(d) On application being made by the governing body, medical inspection
shall be provided by the Council for pupils in attendance at non-aided secondary
schools, provided that the cost thereof shall be refunded to the Council by the
governing body.
(e) Pupils attending trade and domestic schools aided by the Council,
where no system of medical inspection is in force, shall be periodically examined
by the school medical officer.
(/) Arrangements shall be made for the medical inspection and treatment
of pupils holding the Council's scholarships at trade schools.
Secondary,
etc., schools.