HC Deb 18 November 1982 vol 32 c255W
Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost to public funds of reducing all schools classes to a maximum of 25.

Dr. Boyson

In January 1981 average class sizes in England were 25.5 pupils for primary schools and 21.5 for secondary schools. At the same time 57 per cent. of primary classes and 35 per cent. of secondary classes contained 26 or more pupils. There can be no certain estimate of the cost to public funds of reducing all school classes to a maximum of 25 because the cost would depend on the extent to which local education authorities and head teachers gave priority to a reduction in class sizes over other calls on the time of teachers.