§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the average class sizes in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Scotland. [22418]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 12 January 1998]: The information is as follows:
Education Authority Schools Average number of pupils per class September1 Primary2 Secondary 1978–79 24.9 19.4 1979–80 23.9 18.9 1980–81 23.8 19.0 1981–82 23.8 19.1 1982–83 23.8 19.0 1983–84 25.3 19.5 1984–85 25.2 n/a 1985–863 n/a n/a 1986–87 n/a n/a 1987–88 24.9 18.8 1989–90 24.7 18.6 1991–92 24.7 18.9 1993–94 24.7 19.3 1995–96 24.8 19.5 1 Since 1983 for secondary schools and 1987 for primary schools, this information has only been collected biennially. 2 Until the 1983 School Census, classes for small numbers of primary pupils withdrawn for short periods of time from their normal classes were included in the calculation of average class size. From 1983, all pupils were counted against their normal class for statistical purposes. 3 Information for 1985–86 and 1986–87 is unavailable because of industrial action in some schools.