HC Deb 31 October 1955 vol 545 cc83-4W
Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education what proportions of the total number of primary classes were classes with more than 40 pupils in January in each of the last 10 years.

Sir D. Eccles

In maintained schools the percentages of junior classes (other than nursery classes) which had more than 40 pupils in them were as follows:

per cent.
January, 1946 … … 36.7
January, 1947 … … 31.8
January, 1948 … … 32.1
January, 1949 … … 31.8
January, 1950 … … 31.2
January, 1951 … … 28.9
January, 1952 … … 31.9
January, 1953 … … 34.7
January, 1954 … … 33.8
January, 1955 … … 29.9
(provisional)
Figures relating to junior rather than to primary classes are given because the term "primary" includes the senior classes in all-age schools.

Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of primary and secondary classes with over 40, and over 50, pupils, respectively, in January, 1955; and how these figures compare with those for 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954.

Sir D. Eccles

The relevant figures (referring to maintained and assisted schools other than nursery or special schools) are set out in the following table:

Year (January) Junior classes Senior classes
Over 40 Over 50 Over 40 Over 50
1951 30,662 1,034 4,441 89
1952 35,163 1,180 3,863 60
1953 40,046 1,330 3,156 50
1954 40,447 1,145 3,304 44
1955 (provisional) 37,010 916 3,736 37