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Since 19I7, In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education school
medical officers carrying out periodic medical Inspections classify the general condition
of the pupils In three grades - "Good", "Fair" or "Poor". This classification replaced a
4 point scale for recording the doctor's assessment of "nutrition", as "excellent", "normal",
"sub-normal" or "bad". These terms are subjective, and it may be years before the statistics
of assessments on the new scale become stabilised so as to be able to draw significant
conclusions from year to year comparisons.

The anomalous results recorded in 1947 arose largely from doubtful interpretation of
the meaning of the Ministry's new classification and should therefore be disregarded. The
figures for succeeding years provide a more valid basis for comparison.
It will be noted that In 1952, there was a sudden and marked fall in the figure for
poor general condition from 7.53 to 3.35 per cent. The probable explanation for this welcome
reduction was ascribed to the personal factor of the examining medical officer as two changes
were made during the year. With an unchanged medical staff a further reduction in poor
general condition has been recorded - from 3.35 to 1.34 per cent.
This can be regarded as a most satisfactory state of affairs which may well have
approached very closely to the best that can be achieved at present.
HYGIENE OF SCHOOL PREMISES
Following the practice of recent years, the assistant school medical officers conducted
a review of the hygiene of each school at the completion of their periodic medical inspection.
Copies of their reports, with any observations by the School Medical Officer, are supplied to
the Chief Education Officer so that he can consider how far and at what stage it may be
practicable to implement any recommendations. These reviews serve the purpose of drawing
attention to any new matters requiring consideration which may have arisen during the year,
and also of "keeping alive" any improvements which can only be implemented by Inclusion in
long-term plans.
The co-operation of the Education Department and the Borough Engineer enables the
medical officers' recommendations to be translated into practical Improvements to the school
premises or to the services accommodated in them. During the year 5I reports were made and
dealt with in this way.
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