§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the proportion of children in classes of more than 31 in 1979; and what is the proportion currently for(a) all schools, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools. [21504]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe available information is shown in the following table.
Percentage of pupils1 in one teacher classes of 31 or more pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in England Position in January each year 1979 1996 Primary schools 35.3 31.8 Secondary schools 16.0 8.5 1 Pupils in one teacher classes of size 31 or more pupils expressed as a percentage of all pupils in one teacher classes. Information for nursery, special and independent schools is not collected centrally.