Written question asked by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 20 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 June 2007. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 June 2007 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Class Sizes: Chelmsford

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of classes in the West Chelmsford area for five to seven year olds exceed 30 pupils in size.

Answer: The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 places a duty on local authorities and schools to limit the size of infant classes for five, six, and seven year olds taught by one teacher to 30 or fewer pupils. The Education (Infant Class Sizes) Regulations 1998 allow the limit of 30 to be exceeded in limited circumstances. In prescribed circumstances, this allows children to be treated as ““excepted pupils”” for the purposes of ascertaining whether or not the class size limit has been exceeded.As at January 2007 there was one infant class in West Chelmsford constituency with 31 pupils. However, this class did contain one excepted pupil making the class lawfully large.

Secondary information