OXFORD LOCAL EXAMINATIONS.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1583, 3 December 1867, Page 3

OXFORD LOCAL EXAMINATIONS.

[From the " Times," August 29.] The list of successful candidates in these examinations, which have recently appeared in our columns, interesting as they may be to the candidates whose names are printed, and to the schoolmasters who have trained them, convey by themselves but little information to the general public. Some vague impression may remain on the mind of those who glance at the lists in question, and remember how much briefer they used to be, to the eifect that the examinations are flourishing; and a few persons specially interested may take the trouble to note that certain institutions which obtain frequent mention in the lists, or occupy high places in them, must be good educational establishments ; but otherwise little can be gained from the dry facts to which we have given publication. In order to understand the real working of the scheme initiated by the University of Oxford ten years ago, to conceive aright of what it has done, is doing, and may be expected to do, such a comparison is necessary between the results of the present year and those of previous ones as will show in what respects and to what extent advances have been made, where, if anywhere, there has been a falling off, and in what points improvement is still to be desired. It is our present object to institute this comparison, and to exhibit, partly in a tabular form, the progress of these examinations, from their institution in 1858 to their position in 1867. The first point to which we desire to call attention is, the spread of the examinations. Originally they were held at eleven centres only—viz., Oxford, London, Bath, Bedford, Birmingham. Cheltenham (or Grlocester in alternate years), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Southampton. The number of centres is now twenty, all the. places above-mentioned (except Bedford) being still retained, and the following new centres having been added..':—Brighton, Paversham, Fiochley, Lincoln. Northampton, Nottingham, Taunton, Truro, West Buckland, and Windermere. When it is remembered that no place becomes a centre except on its own application, and that considerable trouble and expense are incurred by the applicants, it will be seen that the boon held out by. the University' fs more and more appreciated. In fact, there are now few parts of England to which a knowledge of the scheme has not penetrated, or where a sense of its beneficial working has not stimulated persoiis to make efforts to bring it, so to speak, into their neighbourhood

In this next place it may be noted that the fee for junior candidates has been raised from 10a to _S1 —a change found necessary in order to make the scheme self-supporting; so that whatever growth and extension has been made is (so far at least) in spite of an increase in the expensiveness of the examination to those who form the main bulk of the persons examined. "We may now proceed to the results. In 1858, the first year of the examinations, when its difficulty was little understood, and when there was in middle-class schools an accumulation of unexamimed and uncertified boys, such as could only exist on the first occasion, 1151 boys presented themselves before the examiners. The result was that 721, more than 62 per cent., were "plucked." This severe discipline had the immediate effect of reducing the number of candidates by about one-fourth, the average for the three years following 1858 being a little under 900. In the next triennial period the number of candidates increased to an average of 1026, an excess over the previous average of above 14 . per cent. The last three years show a further and still greater increase, the average of candidates being 1263, or nearly 23 per cent, above that of the preceding triennium. The subjoined table will furnish the details on which these remarks are founded:— © o ■£ _ Number _? § ® Years. of Candidates. g g^ MP. 1858 ... 1151 (abnormal year) 1859 ... 896) j 1860 ... 864 \ 896 j 1861 ... 928 \ 1862 ... 1021 "J i 1863 ... 1029 V 1026 ... l-_ 1864 ... 10271 1865 ... 1221) 1866 ... 1204> 1263 ... 22$ 1867 ... 1365) Thus far, then, we have evidence of a progressive movement. Since 1860, when the numbers were the lowest, they have gradually risen, with scarcely : a check, from 864< to 1365. The last year considerably exceeds any previous one, the excess over 1860 amounting i to 58 per cent. " If we turn now from the mere num«

bers of those examined to what is still more important, the numbers of those who have passed the examination, we fled the results to be as follows :—

In the year 1858 the examination was passed by 430 candidates; 1839, 433; and 1860, 493 ;—average, 473. In the year 1861 the examination was parsed by 599 candidates; 1862,535; and 1863, 644 ;—average, 609.

In the year 1Q64 the examination was passed by 700 candidates ; 18G5, 770 ; and 1866, 772 ;—average, ,747.

In the ye'-r 1867 the examination was passed by 915 candidates.

Here, it will be observed, the progress is still more regular, every year excepting one showing an advance bejond its predecessor. The average mounts constantly, and the excess of 1867 over 1858 is no less than 110 per cent. On the first occasion 430, on the last 915 candidates, were, certificated by the University. Conversely, the proportion of failures has continually diminished. They amounted to 50 per cent, on the first occasion, and on the ; first three years averaged 46 per cent; they have now come down to 33 per cent. One of the most important features of the " local examinations" is the absolute requirement that all candidates shall satisfy the examiners in that portion of the work which is called " preliminary." This consists of reading, writing. from dictation, parsing, summing, English composition, and of a moderate amount of history and geography. The most brilliant abilities, the most advanced knowledge in classics, mathematics, natural science, or other " sectional" j subjects, are not allowed to compensate for deficiency in these elements of all j sound education. It was this requirement which wrought such havoc at first among the pet pupils of so many showy establishments, who, while manifesting considerable acquaintance with such subjects as French, German, and natural science, were found wanting in rudimentary knowledge. In the year 1858, out of 1151 candidates who presented themselves before the examiners, 573—within a small fraction of onehalf —failed to give satisfaction in the essential portion of the examination. In 1865, when "the examination had been at work for eight yeara, the failures in this particular were still as many as 369 out of 1221, or 30 per cent. — i.e., not much short of one-third. In the present year such failures-have fallen to 350 out of 1365, or as nearly as possible 25_- per cent. — i.e., little more than one-fourth.

The subjoined table will show the actual number of such failures in each year, the proportion vyhich they bore to the number of candidates, and the decrease in the proportion as compared with that of the first year (1858):—

The fluctuations which this table exhibits deserve a few minutes attention. -It will be seen that when the number of candidates suddenly increases—that is to,■•,say, when the scheme penetrates into new regions, and a fresh Bet of. schools comes within its influence—there is .generally a rise in the proportion of "preliminary" failures. So, notably,,, in .1862 and 1865. The present is the first occasion of a considerable increase in the

numbers exarpined without this accompaniment. It is, perhaps, the most gratifying feature of the recent examination that, with a rise in the number of candidates exceeding 13 per cent., the failures in preliminary work have fallen per cent.

Turning now from the consideration of mere passes and failures to that of candidates who obtain distinction, we note as remarkable —and as what the opponents of the scheme certainly did not expect, that,, while the proportion of those who pass the examinations rapidly rises, averaging 54. per cent, on the first three years, 60 per cent, on the second three, 66 per ,cent, on the third three, and reaching in the present year to 67 per cent. —the proportion of those who obtain honours has not risen, but has fallen. It averaged on the first three years 25|\per cent. ; on the next three_ it_fell to 20 per cent.; on the third triennium it reached 24 per cent., and at that point it remains in 1867. It was argued that the effect of the scheme would be to make schoolmasters concentrate their attention on a few clever boys at the head of their schools, while they neglected the remainder. It appears, on the /contrary, that the hulk of the benefit has fallen to the share of the rank and .file, the plodding boys who obtain passeSj rather than the more brilliant ones who carry off honours.

Though, however, the proportion of candidates who obtain distinction does not increase, but has slightly diminished, there is, nevertheless, a steady and satisfactory advance in the actual numbers of such persons. At first the numbersfluctuated somewhat strangely —perhaps as much from the want of a steady and uniform standard on the part of tlie examiners as from any great difference of merit in those examined—but now for several years past the advance has been regular and uniform. Honours were obtained in 1861 by 179 of the candidates, in 1862 by 197, in 1563 by 219, in 1864 by 265, in 1865 by 283, in 1166 by 292, and in 1867 by 328. During the same period the number of those placed in the first division of the general list increased from 45 to 72, and of those placed in the second division from 112 to 198.

The main advances made, and still making, are in the two sections of " English " and " languages " (ancient and modern). The study of mathematics has shown of late years a tendency to decline, while that of physical science has, during the same period

remained stationary. Music and drawing give signs of improvement, though the number who obtain distinction in them is still incousiderable. Iv the present year the number of sectional honours gained is as follows :—ln English, 69; (ia ancient and modern) languages, 65; in mathematics, 32; in drawing, 13; in music, 10, and in physical science. 9; the average of former years being—English, 47 ; languages, 42; mathematics 32 ; physical science, 9; drawing, s_-; and music, 3-j.

Iv conclusion, it may be be observed that the " senior " lists of the present year show an important difference of arrangement from those of all former ones. The " general list," which Oxford originally introduced into this part of the examination, rather in deference to Cambridge than from her own inclination, has now obtained precedence over the " sectional lists," and occupies the post of honour in the published catalogue. We understand that this change has been made in connexion with another which does not appear on the face of the publication. Formerly, the marks gained for the preliminary examination were added in with the sectional marks in each of the four main sections (English, languages, mathematics, and natural science.) Now the sectional marks alone determine the candidates' places in the honour lists of the sections, while the general list depends on the entire number of marks which they have obtained in all subjects. This change will, we think, commend itself to the approval of most persons, and it is not among the least of its advantages that it tends to assimilate the schemes of the two Universities, which have bitherto been to some extent antagonistic.

fear J" 9 ?.! S.S | S 1 - * {5 i ear. ,0 a, • X a • . S •< >_ -.. __ | g S g Si |1« § £2 Percent. Percent. L858 ... 573 ... 1151 ... 50. ... — .859 ... 304 ... 896 ... 34 ... 16 860 ... 315 ... 864 ... 36 ... 14 .861 ... 233 ... 928 ... 25 ... 25 862 ... 325 ... 1021 ... 32 ... 18 .863 ... 259 ' ... 1029.... 25 ... 25 .864 ... 209 ... 1027 ... 20 ... 30 .865 ... 369 ... 1221 ... 30 ... 20 866 ... 346 ... 1204 ... 29 ... 21 .867 ... 350 ... 1365 ... 25* ... 24*