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126
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Borough has a duty to provide for the medical inspection
at appropriate intervals and to make arrangements for securing
the provision of free medical and dental treatment to pupils in
attendance at Maintained Schools. The School Health Service,
under the direction of the Principal School Medical Officer,
administers these services on behalf of the Borough.
It is the aim of the School Health Service, in collaboration
with the Education Department, to be satisfied, by means of these
medical examinations, that every child is able to receive the type
of education best suited to his age, aptitude and ability.
There are 34 Secondary Schools (including 2 Direct Grant)
and 90 Primary Schools in the Borough; also 4 special day
schools for educationally subnormal children, and one hospital
school.
In January there were 48,119 pupils (an increase of 1,253)
on the registers of the Maintained Primary, Secondary, Special
and Nursery Schools.
It is the aim to give statutory routine medical inspections to
all pupils entering the infants' school and to repeat these when
they reach the age of 10 years and 14 years. In addition at 8 years
of age pupils are given routine tests of vision and hearing alone;
a full medical examination is undertaken at this age only if, for
any reason, it appears necessary. Further, when at any time during
a child's school career the head teacher, parent or doctor is
concerned about the health of a particular child in relation to
school education or activity, arrangements are made for special
examinations to be carried out. Private schools may participate
in the School Health Service at request.
The total number of children attending both Maintained and
Independent Schools who were examined in the routine age
groups was 12,293. The physical condition of all the pupils
inspected was satisfactory and 1,632 pupils (13.3%) were found
to require treatment.
A further 2,729 children were given routine tests of vision
and hearing, as a result of which 103 pupils (3.8%) were referred