HC Deb 16 February 1988 vol 127 c580W
50. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on current pupil to teacher ratios.

Mr. Dunn

The overall pupil to teacher ratio in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England has fallen markedly in recent years, from 18.1:1 in 1983 to 17.3:1 in 1987. "The Government's Expenditure Plans" (Cm. 288) allow for some further reduction in the overall pupil to teacher ratio to 17.0:1 by 1989.