The Board of Education have issued a circular to local education authorities asking for a return of the number of children excused from school attendance for purposes of agricultural employment in respect of the period February 1st to April 30th. The return is not to include any children who entered employment before February 1st, or any who are properly exempt from school attendance under by-laws formed under the Robson Act.
The numbers exempt under the Robson Act are to be filed in a separate return. The Robson Act is a measure passed in 1899, the general purpose of which was to raise the age at which children were allowed to go to work half-time, from eleven to twelve years of age. It provided, however, for by-laws whereby children in rural areas over eleven years of age could be totally exempt from school attendance for six months of the year for agricultural employment provided they attended school regularly for the remaining six months.
Banbury Guardian May 1915