§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate by how much average class sizes in maintained secondary schools would need to be reduced in order to achieve an increase in educational attainment.
§ Mr. DunnThe evidence from a considerable number of expert studies is ambiguous, and within broad limits no clear statistical relationship between class sizes and educational attainment has been demonstrated. The only official data on class sizes available, are the annual surveys taken at a single point in time. The nearest useful indicator, though influenced by many other factors including for example the allocation of teachers to pastoral care, is the pupil/teacher ratio (PTR). The PTR in maintained secondary schools was 16.5: 1 in January 1983, the lowest ever recorded.