29. Mrs. Patonasked the Minister of Education what is the number of primary school classes with more than 40 children; how long he estimates it will take at the present rate of progress to reduce all these classes to 40 children; and whether he can give an assurance that it is his policy to place primary schools on a level with secondary schools so far as the number in a class is concerned.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThere were 32,925 such classes in January, 1948, the latest date for which figures are available. It is my policy to get the size of classes, particularly in primary schools, reduced as quickly as the necessary teachers and buildings can be made available. Lack of buildings and teachers is the sole reason for the present difference between the maximum sizes of class prescribed for primary and secondary schools respectively.
Mr. Amoryasked the Minister of Education what is the number of classes in primary and secondary schools respectively with over fifty, over forty and over thirty pupils, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. C. Smith) on the 25th January.