Class Sizes (Hansard, 22 February 1999)

§ Mr. Hain

The January 1998 annual Schools' Census showed the following percentages of pupils in Wales were educated in classes of 30 or less:

Year group	Usual age of pupils	Percentage
Reception	5	74.3
Year 1	6	66.4
Year 2	7	62.5
Other key stage 1 classes of mixed year groups	—	74.9

At January 1998, there were 30,734 pupils in Key Stage 1 classes of over 30 pupils.

In 1998–1999, £3.7 million in infant class size reduction grant has been allocated to local education authorities across Wales. It is estimated that more than 270 additional teachers have been taken on using this grant, with more than 700 classes being brought down to 30 pupils or less. This means that there are now 23,500 more Welsh infants in classes of less than 30 than there would have been without the grant. The 1999 Schools' Census will give the actual position.

In 1999–2000, £11.3 million will be available to local education authorities to continue funding existing measures and to make further progress in tackling the remainder of the problem. Local education authorities have submitted bids for 1999–2000 infant class size reduction grant and successful bids will be announced by end March. Eligible expenditure in the 1999–2000 round includes teachers' salaries, minor refurbishment works and the capital costs of new build classrooms and demountable classrooms.

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.