§ Commander Donaldsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in view of the fact that Scottish schoolchildren's classes are so crowded that only an exceptional child can make the most of his education, what steps he is taking to remedy the situation;
(2) what proportion the number of teachers employed in Scotland this year bears to the number employed in the preceding four years; if he will give the number of school teachers employed in the last four years; and how many classes have grown in size.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe table appended shows for the past five years the number of teachers employed and the total number of classes and for the past three years the numbers of classes of different sizes making up the total. In 1953, 90 per cent, of primary and secondary pupils 147W were in classes which were below the maximum permitted size: and only about 11/4 per cent, were in classes which exceeded the permitted maximum by more than five. It is our aim to secure further reductions in the size of classes by the
— 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 Numbers of teachers 32,374 32,843 33,538 34,151 34,924 Percentage of number in 1949 (100) (101.4) (103.6) (105.5) (107.9) Classes:— 1–20 pupils Not available Not available 4,820 4,789 4,758 21–30 " " " 6,086 5,898 5,871 31–35 " " " 4,003 4,103 4,228 36–40 " " " 4,621 4,824 5,098 41–45 " " " 3,314 3,443 3,562 46–50 " " " 1,066 1,044 1,103 51–55 " " " 147 128 124 Over 55 " " " 17 28 27 Total 24,065 24,513 24,074 24,257 24,771
§ Commander Donaldsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Scottish schoolchildren are taught in classes larger than the size fixed by law for English schoolchildren.
§ Mr. J. StuartI would refer my hon. Friend to the table circulated in my reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Angus, South (Captain Duncan) on 16th March, which shows that in the 1952-53 session 28.7 per cent, of classes in Scotland and 39.6 per cent, of classes in England and Wales were over-size by English standards.