The table below provides the average pupil to teacher ratio in state funded primary and state funded secondary schools in York and England[1] as reported by schools in each year in November from 2011 to 2018.

Data from before 2011 was collected every year from January and is not comparable to data collected after 2011 in the School Workforce Census. Data from before 2011 is available here: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120531061356/https://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/statistics-by-topic/teachersandschoolworkforce/a00196868/pupil-teacher-ratios.

[1] The England figures are calculated by dividing the total full-time education number of pupils on roll in schools in each year by the total number of teachers in schools each year. Where schools are not open on Census day, for both the School Workforce Census (November), and the school Census (January) they are excluded. Schools that do not provide either pupil or teacher figures are also excluded. The School Workforce Census methodology document provides further information, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/811619/SWFC_Methodology.pdf.

[2] Excludes nursery.

[3] Figures prior to 2011 are not available in a complete format.

[4] This figure is based on 50 out of the 52 open primary schools in York in 2013.

[5] This figure is based on 49 out of the 50 open primary schools in York in 2016.

[6] This figure is based on 8 out of the 9 open secondary schools in York in 2016.

[7] This figure is based on 8 out of the 9 open secondary schools in York in 2017.

[8] This figure is based on 8 out of the 9 open schools in York in 2018. All other figures for York are based on the full set of schools that were open at the time.

In 2018, overall, there were 340 fewer schools that were at or over capacity compared with 2010.

Delivering new school places is a top priority for the Government. The Department has committed £7 billion to deliver new school places between 2015 and 2021, on top of investment in the free schools programme. 921,000 additional school places were created between May 2010 and May 2018 and one million places are on track to be created this decade (2010 to 2020), the largest increase in school capacity for at least two generations.

information on average class sizes in state-funded schools in England is published in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2018.

In January 2018, the average primary school class size was 27.1, while the average secondary school class size was 21.2.

In Hampshire, the average class size for state-funded primary schools is 27.7, while the average class size for state-funded secondary schools is 23.0.

In Portsmouth, the average class size for state-funded primary schools is 27.6, while the average class size for state-funded secondary schools is 21.9.

​This only covers England, as education in the UK is a devolved matter.

The following table provides the pupil to teacher ratios, calculated using both qualified and unqualified teachers, in state funded secondary schools in Wallasey constituency and East Hampshire constituency from November 2011 to 2017. These figures are not available for 2010. The figures show that there were more teachers per pupil in Wallasey secondary schools than the national average for all the available years.

The following table provides the pupil to teacher ratios, calculated using both qualified and unqualified teachers, in state funded primary in Wallesey constituency from November 2011 to 2017. These figures are not available for 2010. The figures show that there were more teachers per pupil in Wallasey from 2013 onwards than the national average.

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 limits the size of an infant class to 30 pupils per school teacher. There is no statutory limit for other primary school class sizes.

The average infant class contains 27.3 pupils, below the statutory limit for infant class sizes. The School Admissions Code lists categories of children eligible for admission as exceptions to the infant class size legislation. There are only eight such exceptions, including looked after children and children of multiple births. In the small number of cases where infant classes are above the limit, it is almost always as a result of admitting a child under a prescribed exception. The vast majority (96.7%) of infant classes with more than 30 pupils have only one or two additional pupils.

Where an infant class exceeds the limit and no exceptions apply, the local authority and the school, where it is its own admission authority, will be in breach of their legal duties. It is expected that most instances of unlawfully large classes can be resolved locally. However, where a school or local authority fails to carry out a duty imposed on them by the Education Acts, the Secretary of State has the power to direct a school to comply with the law.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The latest data[1] shows there are fewer pupils in excess of their school capacity when compared with 2010; reducing from more than 97,000 in May 2010 to 54,000 in May 2017.

[1] The annual school capacity survey 2017, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-capacity-academic-year-2016-to-2017.

In the north-east, as class sizes continue to grow, the number of teachers has fallen by almost 500 in the past year alone. When can we expect to see Ministers getting to grips with the growing crisis that we face in teacher retention?

We have record numbers of teachers—450,000, which is 10,000 more. The number actually fell this year, but there are 450,000 teachers in our school system—10,000 more than in 2010. The average class size in secondary schools has risen only slightly since 2010 despite the fact that there are 32,000 more secondary school places, and similarly in primary schools, despite the fact that there are over 500,000 more primary school pupils in our schools. We are working in areas around the country, including the north-east, to improve teacher recruitment and retention in those areas.

The Department published information on average class sizes in state-funded schools in England from the January 2018 school census in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2018.

Information on pupil teacher ratios (PTR) is published in tables 17a and 17b of the publication, School Workforce in England, 2017 available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2017.

The PTR is calculated using the November teacher data from the School Workforce Census and the pupil data collected in the following January School Census. Only those schools that provided both pupil and workforce information are included in the calculations. The pupil numbers used in the calculation of the PTR statistics include dual registered pupils. Full time equivalent (FTE) figures are used for both pupils and teachers in each school phase. The PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of teachers regularly employed in schools. Figures are rounded to one decimal place.

The average class size for state-funded secondary schools in Portsmouth is 21.5, which is in line with the national average of 20.8. It is up to secondary schools to decide on the organisation of classes based on local needs and circumstances, ensuring they are consistent with raising attainment and helping pupils to achieve their potential.

As we have heard routinely today, school standards in England are rising. In the end, that is what parents care about. There are 1.9 million more children in better primary and secondary schools, and the phonics check is improving literacy outcomes tremendously. It would be good if Opposition Members welcomed that for once.

Class sizes in Barnsley are above the national average. As a former teacher, I know the impact that that can have. Does the Secretary of State accept that it has a detrimental impact on pupils?

Average class size figures for state-funded schools in England are calculated and published annually in the statistical first releases available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

A national summary of average class sizes for key stages 1 and 2 and secondary is in the national tables document for each year, tables 6a and 6b respectively.

Data is not summarised by parliamentary constituency, but data for each school providing average class sizes for key stages 1 and 2, where appropriate, and overall is available via opening the underlying tables document for each year then the file ‘…Schools_Classes_UD’. The figures can be filtered by parliamentary constituency, school phase and local authority.

Average class size figures for state funded schools in England are calculated and published annually in the statistical first releases available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

A national summary of average class sizes for Key Stages 1 and 2 and secondary is in the national tables document for each year, tables 6a and 6b respectively.

A summary at local authority and regional level is only available for Key Stages 1 and 2 and is in the local authority and regional tables document for each year, table 11.

Data is not summarised by parliamentary constituency, but data for each school providing average class sizes for Key Stages 1 and 2, where appropriate, and overall is available via opening the underlying tables document for each year then the file ‘…Schools_Classes_UD’. The figures can be filtered by parliamentary constituency, school phase and local authority.

Average class size figures for state-funded schools in England are calculated and published annually in the statistical first releases available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

A national summary of average class sizes for key stages 1 and 2 and secondary is in the national tables document for each year, tables 6a and 6b respectively.

Data is not summarised by parliamentary constituency, but data for each school providing average class sizes for key stages 1 and 2, where appropriate, and overall is available via opening the underlying tables document for each year then the file ‘…Schools_Classes_UD’. The figures can be filtered by parliamentary constituency, school phase and local authority.

Average class size figures for state-funded schools in England are calculated and published annually in the statistical first releases available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

A national summary of average class sizes for Key Stages 1 and 2 and secondary is in each national tables document, tables 6a and 6b respectively.

A summary at local authority and regional level is only available for Key Stages 1 and 2 and can be found in each local authority and regional tables document in table 11.

Data is not summarised by parliamentary constituency, but data for each school providing average class sizes for Key Stages 1 and 2, where appropriate, and overall is available via opening the underlying tables document for each year then via the file ‘…Schools_Classes_UD’. The figures can be filtered by parliamentary constituency, school phase and local authority.

The attached table provides the average pupil to teacher ratio[1] in state funded primary and state funded secondary schools as reported by schools in Oxford West and Abingdon parliamentary constituency and England in November each year from 2011 to 2016.

[1] The Pupil Teacher Ratios are calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools in each year by the total number of FTE teachers in schools in each year. Where schools are not open on Census (January) they are excluded. See School Workforce Census methodology document for further information: Methodology: SFR25/2017

Average class size figures for state-funded schools in England are calculated and published annually in the statistical first releases available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

A national summary of average class sizes for Key Stages 1 and 2 and secondary is in the link to national tables, tables 6a and 6b respectively.

A summary at local authority and regional level is only available for Key Stages 1 and 2 and is in the link to local authority and regional tables, table 11.

Data is not summarised by parliamentary constituency, but data for each school providing average class sizes for Key Stages 1 and 2, where appropriate, and overall is available via the link to underlying tables for each year then the file ‘…Schools_Classes_UD’. The figures can be filtered by school phase, local authority and parliamentary constituency.

A UK figure is not available. As education is a devolved matter, statistics on schools are published separately by the four administrations.