Primary Education: Class Sizes
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of class size limits in primary schools.
Answered by Department for Education
Measures are in place to limit and reduce class sizes, particularly for younger children. Legislation caps the size of an infant class at 30 pupils per qualified teacher. Infant classes are those in which most pupils turn five, six, or seven during the school year. Current data shows the average infant class size is 25.9 pupils, a decrease of 0.3 compared with the previous year.
There is no statutory limit on class sizes for children aged eight and above. Schools have the flexibility to organise these classes according to local need and circumstance, ensuring pupils receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. The average primary class size, covering both infant and junior classes, is 26.1 pupils, down by 0.3 from last year.
These trends, alongside the statutory infant class limit, demonstrate that current measures are effective.
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