“On the intellectual side, we think that much more could be done for most girls if the present system of university examinations were altered or modified. We are forced to consider first and foremost, not our own special requirements, but a syllabus imposed from outside. This country is lagging behind others in retaining a multiplicity of external examinations.

Examinations have a real value, and cannot be dispensed with altogether at present, but under the existing system it is not possible for the schools to do as much for their individual pupils as they otherwise could. To separate the examination for a School Leaving Certificate from that for university entrance, and to abolish the Intermediate examination altogether, would be steps in the right direction.

At the Intermediate stage, pupils should not be working to an exacting syllabus, but should be laying a broad foundation for a cultural education. We should like to give the girls much greater opportunity for handwork and for occupations that would profitably fill the leisure which so many of them will enjoy, but we are faced with the impossibility of doing what we want under present conditions.

A separate School Leaving examination would leave time for these things, but a University entrance examination is too closely concerned with academic standards to do this, and in Australia these two functions are combined.

I do not think that girls at school should be left with a great deal of spare time on their hands, but I think that for many of them work that is purely intellectual does not provide for full development.”

EDNA HOLMES
Headmistress
May 1936