HC Deb 24 November 1960 vol 630 cc128-30W
71. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education how long he estimates it will take at the present rates of recruitment of teachers and school building, to reduce the size of all primary and secondary classes in England and Wales to below 30 pupils per class.

Mr. K. Thompson

My right hon. Friend's present plans allow for secondary school classes of over 30 pupils and primary school classes of over 40 pupils to be eliminated by 1970. The reduction of primary class sizes from 40 to 30 would require about another 50,000 teachers at that time.

Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish a table showing the geographical distribution, by counties and county boroughs, in January 1960 of junior and senior classes with more than 40 pupils per class in the North Midland and Midland Region.

Mr. K. Thompson

The following table shows the distribution, in January 1960, of classes with more than 40 pupils per class, in the North Midland and Midland Regions.

January, 1960
NORTH MIDLAND REGION
Local Education Authority Junior Classes Senior Classes
Derbyshire 269 82
Leicestershire 192 27
Lincs. (Holland) 22 5
Lincs. (Kesteven) 23 24
Lincs. (Lindsey) 160 37
Northamptonshire 167 13
Nottinghamshire 378 72
Rutland 4 6
Total Counties 1,215 266
Derby 42 22
Grimsby 106 42
Leicester 34 45
Lincoln 33 7
Northampton 66 7
Nottingham 214 5
Total County Boroughs 495 128
TOTAL 1,710 394
MIDLAND REGION
Local Education Authority Junior Classes Senior Classes
Herefordshire 20 4
Shropshire 93 35
Staffordshire 641 148
Warwickshire 283 46
Worcestershire 122 29
Total Counties 1,159 262
Birmingham 774 370
Burton-upon-Trent 34 11
Coventry 132 10
Dudley 14 2
Smethwick 33 8
Stoke-on-Trent 116 33
Walsall 119 12
West Bromwich 129 9
Wolverhampton 82 7
Worcester 36 27
Total County Boroughs 1,469 489
TOTAL 2,628 751

Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Education how long it will take at the present rates of recruitment of teachers and school building, to reduce the size of all primary and secondary classes in Newcastle-under-Lyme to below 30 pupils per class.

Mr. K. Thompson

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate. Newcastle-under-Lyme will share in the improved national supply of teachers. It is impossible to forecast whether oversize classes will be eliminated there earlier than 1970.