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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of large class sizes, including in sixth forms, on secondary schools; [119413] (2) what recent representations he has received on class sizes in secondary schools; [119414] (3) what plans he has to reduce class sizes in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement; [119415] Ms Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives representations from time to time on various issues related to class sizes. The evidence, including from Ofsted, indicates that class size is most important at Key Stage 1. That is why we pledged to reduce the size of infant classes to 30 or below, ensuring that all children benefit, and helping to give young pupils the important start they need. We are well on track to deliver our pledge by September 2001 at the latest. The average number of pupils in secondary classes is 22--about five fewer than in primary schools. The pupil/teacher ratio in secondary schools is 17.1--more than six lower than in primary schools. Class sizes in secondary schools have been rising steadily since 1998, when the figure was 19.9. In the recent budget, secondary headteachers each received between £30,000 and £50,000. It remains for headteachers to decide how to use this money, but spend on teachers, the secondary pupil/teacher ratio could be reduced by 0.4. More generally, between 1997-98 and 2000-01, overall funding per secondary school pupil has increased in cash terms by some £580--an increase of around 20 per cent.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

348 c354W; 119413;119414;119415

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Class sizes Secondary education Sixth form education

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk