Pupil-teacher Ratios

HC Deb 27 November 1979 vol 974 cc564-5W

Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will collect statistics on pupil-teacher ratios in the private sector.

Dr. Boyson

Average pupil-teacher ratios for independent schools are published each year in Statistics of Education, Volume 1, Schools, which is available in the Library.

Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the national pupil-teacher ratio in local authority secondary and primary schools; and if he will take action to lower the pupil ratio to teachers in local authority schools.

Dr. Boyson

The ratios in England in January 1979 were: within primary schools 23.1:1; and, within secondary schools, 16.7:1. In January 1979, the overall pupil-teacher ratio, which relates all the teachers being paid by authorities to the pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, was 18.9:1. The Government's expenditure plans provide for an overall ratio in 1979–80 and 1980–81 of 18.7:1. This is the lowest ever recorded.