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In December the number of pupils on the register of maintained primary and
secondary schools including nursery and special schools, was 37,305.
During the year 12,612 children were examined at routine medical inspection
and one was found to come within the official category of unsatisfactory physical
condition, which is a summing-up of the medical officer's opinion of the child's
physical fitness. This was a case of gross obesity and was referred to a special
endocrine clinic.
There are 10 independent schools in the borough. An independent school is
any school at which full-time education is provided for five or more pupils of
compulsory school age (whether or not such education is also provided for pupils
under or over that age), not being a school maintained by a local education authority
or a school in respect of which grants are made by the Secretary of State to the
proprietor of the school. Medical inspection is not provided by the borough at
such schools but they are included in the scheme for B.C.G. vaccination.
Colour Vision
The Medical Examination at 10 years of age includes a colour vision test by
the Ishihara method. Those found by the Ishihara plates to have a defect are retested
by Giles Archer Lantern Test. In certain occupations it is essential that those
employed are able to discriminate between colours accurately and 10 years of age
is an appropriate age at which to discover any colour defect likely to debar a child's
entry to such employment.
One hundred and thirteen children were found on the Ishihara test to have a
degree of colour blindness. Of the 107 tested by Giles Archer Lantern, 15 were
found to be normal, 37 were found to be safe and 55 unsafe in relation to certain
standards for employment.
Hearing
All children have their hearing tested in school by sweep pure-tone audiometer
three times during their school life, i.e. at school entry, at eight or nine years of age
and at 12 or 13 years of age. Those children who fail the test are referred to the
school medical officer for investigation. Children requiring further investigation
and treatment are referred to the family doctor or to the ear, nose and throat
consultants.
During 1967, 12,904 children were routinely tested in school, and 503 were
found to have a hearing defect; of this number 172 were already known cases. A
further 1,986 re-tests were carried out for various reasons. As a result of this, many
children had minor treatment for conditions affecting their hearing.
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