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accommodation 336, and (c) A Senior Mixed Department of seven
rooms including two rooms for instruction in Science and Art,
also a Manual Centre and a Domestic Subject Centre, a Library
and a large Hall, accommodation 320.
Infants' Department.
This Department now provides for infants of ages 4 to 8.
The methods adopted are those introduced by Dr. Montessori, and
are based on directed or controlled freedom of movement co-ordinated
with a scientific use of didactic material. The introduction of the
Montessori system has wrought a great change in the outlook of
children towards their work in school. The Headmistress and five
members of her staff possess the Montessori Diploma. There are
now 381 scholars on the roll (February, 1932) of the Infants' Department
which has necessitated the temporary transfer of the use
of a room normally appertaining to the Junior Department.
Junior Department.
This department provides for a three year course from ages
8-11 and allows for the grouping of children into two groups for
each year, plus a class for difficult children. At the present time
the Junior Department is combined with the Senior Department
under one Head Teacher, but the break at 11 plus is maintained.
Senior Department.
In designing this department the original intention was to
provide accommodation for the raising of the school leaving age
to 15. It was hoped also at some future date to combine the John
Perryn and Acton Wells Senior departments, one to function for
Senior Boys and the other for Senior Girls. If there is a possibility
of the present numbers in the John Perryn Senior and Junior Departments
being maintained (560 in February 1932) these two departments
will be separated and Head Teachers assigned to each.
It is also intended to utilise the Senior department premises
in connection with the system of evening continuation schools now
working in connection with the Acton Technical College, whilst
the Branch Library it is hoped, will add to its present usefulness
as a permanent factor in the adult education movement. The school
has become a flourishing centre of educational activity. There is
a large and active parents guild and .the combined Junior and Senior
hall is licensed for public functions.
DEFECTS FOUND IN MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Table 2 includes a return of defects found at Medical Inspection.
Under Malnutrition it will be seen that 1 child needed treatment,
and 57 required to be kept under observation. Few