HC Deb 06 March 1958 vol 583 cc156-7W
118. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to reduce the size of classes in primary schools.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Since 1953 the average size of classes in primary schools has fallen each year. Our policy is to continue this trend, but also to see that staffing standards in the primary schools are not disproportionately improved at the expense of the secondary schools, where the number of pupils is increasing rapidly. That is why I have found it necessary to encourage the transfer of teachers from primary to secondary schools.

NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND SCHOOL PLACES STARTED AND COMPLETED
— Number of major projects (a) Number of new places provided by
Major projects Minor projects
Started Completed Started Completed Started Completed
1st July, 1945–31st October, 1951 30 (28) 13 (8) 13,740(b) 7,710(b) not known not known
1st November, 1951–31st December, 1957 43 (25) 37 (36) 14,700 13,050 4,715 3,500
Notes
(a) These include complete new schools (often comprising more than one department) and major extensions to existing schools. The figures in brackets show the number of complete new departments.
(b) These include places in huts built specially for the raising of the school leaving age in 1947.