HC Deb 08 March 1984 vol 55 cc676-7W
Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give his estimate of the number of classes in (a) primary schools, (b) intermediate schools, (c) grammar schools and (d) technical schools in (i) the voluntary sector, (ii) the maintained sector and (iii) the controlled sector which are 25 per cent., 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. and more than 50 per cent. above the average class size; how many in the same bands are below average class size; and what are the smallest and largest classes known to him in each category.

Mr. Scott

Statistics on class sizes are not collected individually in the annual schools census but in the form of class size distribution within each school; the available information is as follows:—

Secondary Intermediate Schools
Class sizes: 10 or less 11–15 16–20 21–25 26–30 31–35 36–40 41–45 46–50 Total
Controlled—No of classes 294 576 750 511 471 145 7 0 0 2,754
—per cent, of classes 10.7 20.9 27.2 18.6 17.1 5.3 0.3 0 0
Volume maintained—No of classes 260 545 700 480 408 153 21 0 1 2,568
—per cent, of classes 10.1 21.2 27.3 18.7 15.9 5.9 0.8 0

†‡Grammar Schools
Class sizes: 10 or less 11–15 16–20 21–25 26–30 31–35 46–40 41–45 46–50 50+ Total
Controlled—No of classes 121 131 152 161 138 13 0 1 0 1 718
—per cent, of classes 16.9 18.2 21.2 22.4 19.2 1.8 0 0.1 0 0.1
Voluntary—No of classes 318 319 411 407 434 182 10 1 0 1 2,083
—per cent, of classes 15.3 15.3 19.7 19.5 20.8 8.7 0.5 0.1 0 0.1
* Includes nursery classes in primary schools but excludes nursery schools.
† These figures relate to the distribution of form classes and to not necessarily equate with the size of teaching groups for particular subjects.
‡ Includes classes in preparatory departments.

There are no technical schools, and information is not available on class sizes in further education colleges.