§ 8. Lieut-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Education how many primary and secondary school classes there now are with over 60 pupils; where these schools are situated; and what special steps are being taken to reduce the numbers in those classes.
§ 11. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Education how many classes containing over 60 children there are in primary and secondary schools; and what steps she is taking to abolish these.
§ Miss HorsbrughFull statistics for 1952 are not yet available, but of the 15 classes recorded as having more than 60 children on the register in January, 1951, only four remained of this size in January, 1952, and the children in them were grouped for registration purposes only. They were actually taught in much smaller groups.
§ Lieut-Colonel LiptonDoes that mean that there are no classes now with more than 60 pupils being taught by one teacher? If that is so, it will mean that a horrible blot has been removed from our educational system.
§ Miss HorsbrughI hope that more blots will be removed shortly.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs the Minister aware of the intense feeling at all teachers' conferences about the size of classes, and 2412 will she, as a gesture, issue one of her now famous circulars outlawing any class of over 60 under any circumstances whatever?
§ Miss HorsbrughAll the figures I have given on the subject of the number of teachers and the size of classes, as the hon. Gentleman knows, refer to the time when my predecessors were in office. The figures I have quoted about the training of teachers come from the report of the National Advisory Committee. I have only given the suggestions of those who are carrying on this work and the figures that were produced by my predecessors. If the hon. Gentleman knows any way of doing what he suggests without outlawing the children from the schools, I shall be very glad to hear about it.