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104
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The population of the borough, estimated by the Registrar
General, was 139,4-20 at mid-1972.
In January, 1973, the number of pupils on the registers of
maintained schools was 21,707, made up as follows:
Primary Schools 12,207
Secondary Schools 9,031
Nursery Schools 194
Special Schools 275
In addition, it is estimated that 3,000 children attend
independent schools registered under Part III of the Education Act
1944, and 556 attend the direct grant school which is served by the
school health service.
The number of maintained schools in the borough on 31st December,
1972 was 6l: 13 secondary, 43 primary, 2 nursery, 3 special. One direot
grant school was included in the school health service under the terms
of Section 78 of the Education Act 1944.
Staff
The Medical Officer of Health and his deputy are also Principal
and Deputy Principal School Medical Officers and were assisted by two
senior and three other medical officers. The services of sessionally
employed medical officers are also used to maintain the programme of
fixed appointments at clinics and as reliefs for leave and sickness.
The health visiting staff consisting of a Superintendent
Health Visitor, a Deputy Superintendent and 30 health visitors carry
out the functions of school nurses, devoting about 20 per cent of their
time to duties in connection with the school health service.
Sessionally employed state registered nurses work with medical
officers at medical inspections in secondary schools, immunisation
sessions and general medical clinics, and are responsible for vision
testing of thirteen and sixteen-year-old pupils.