ABSTRACT
Slow learners are regarded as those pupils who are unable to cope with the school work normal for their age-group but whose failure cannot be explained by the presence of any handicapping condition defined in the ten categories of handicapped children. In order to estimate the number of slow learners in the school population it is necessary to establish a standard by which the slow learners may be defined. During 1967–8 members of H. M. Inspectorate carried out a survey of slow learners in secondary schools, the report of which was not published until December 1971. Deducting the number of pupils in esn schools gives the total of slow learners in ordinary schools as 968,792 and even if those awaiting admission to esn schools were provided for, the ordinary schools would still be faced with the need to provide an appropriate education for 957,504 slow learning pupils.
