§ Paddy AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his estimate is of the average sizes of classes taught by one teacher in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Yeovil constituency in each of the years 1994–95 to 2000–01. [144605]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 18 January 2001]: The available information for the parliamentary constituency of Yeovil on average class sizes collected in January is shown in the table. Information on class sizes by parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 1997.
We have secured early delivery of our infant class size pledge in Yeovil. The most recent figures show that in September 2000 there were no infant classes in the constituency with more than 30 pupils.
The size of the average secondary class nationally, at 22, is still five below the average primary class. Secondary headteachers are receiving up to £50,000 in direct grant to spend as they choose. If this were spent on recruiting teachers, the average secondary class size could be reduced by up to 0.8.
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Average class size: Classes taught by one teacher, 1995–2000 Position as at January Year Key stage 1 Average class size All primary Average class size All secondary Average class size Yeovil constituency 2000 26.4 27.7 24.8 1999 26.8 27.8 24.1 1998 26.6 27.6 24.2 1997 26.6 27.0 23.2 1996 1— 1— 1— 1995 1— 1— 1—
Average class size: Classes taught by one teacher, 1995–2000 Position as at January Year Key stage 1 Average class size All primary Average class size All secondary Average class size Somerset LEA 2000 26.2 27.6 23.6 1999 26.8 28.0 23.9 1998 26.7 27.8 23.9 1997 26.7 27.6 23.2 1996 26.1 27.3 23.2 1995 1— 27.0 22.5 1 Not available