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Written question asked by Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative) on Friday, 10 May 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 May 2024. It was answered by Damian Hinds (Conservative) on Monday, 20 May 2024 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Class Sizes

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average class size was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year group in each local authority in the latest period for which data is available.

Answer

The department publishes annual statistics on the number of pupils at schools in England according to the kind of school they attend. The most recent figures are for January 2023 and are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2022-23.

The department does not collect year group data for independent school pupils as these schools are not required to follow the national curriculum and year groups may not apply. The department does publish figures by age. A table showing independent school pupils by age as of January 2023 is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/8b927366-344b-4505-8cc9-08dc706299c6. Generally, national curriculum year 1 corresponds to pupils aged 5 years old at the start of the school year and compulsory schooling ends at year 11 with pupils aged 15 years old at the start of the school year.

Average class size figures are published by local authority for state-funded primary and secondary schools but not by year groups within those schools. The attached table contains the breakdowns requested.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
25682
Session
2023-24
Attachment
25680_25682_average_class_size_table
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Class sizes Primary education Secondary education
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk