HC Deb 24 July 1991 vol 195 cc568-9W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving his estimate of(a) pupil:teacher ratio and (b) average class sizes for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in England, for 1990–91 and each of the past 12 years.

Mr. Fallon

Figures are given in the table. The "within school" pupil:teacher ratios and average class sizes are not yet available for 1991. The overall PTR for 1991 is provisional.

Average class sizes and pupil: teacher ratios in local authority maintained, and grant-maintained, schools in England 1979 to 1991 (January)
Primary1 Secondary Nursery, primary secondary
PTR1 class size4 PTR class size PTR3
1979 23.10 25.9 16.75 21.0 18.95
1980 22.70 25.4 16.65 20.9 18.70
1981 22.60 25.2 16.60 20.8 18.55
1982 22.50 25.1 16.65 20.7 18.45
1983 22.30 24.8 16.50 20.6 18.15
1984 22.15 24.7 16.25 20.4 17.90
1985 22.20 24.9 16.15 20.4 17.75
1986 22.10 25.5 15.95 20.3 17.55
1987 21.90 25.4 15.65 20.2 17.30
1988 22.00 25.4 15.40 19.9 17.00
1989 21.95 25.7 15.30 19.9 17.00
1990 22.00 25.9 15.25 20.0 16.95
1991 .. .. .. .. 517.25
1 Excluding nursery.
2 Based on qualified teachers only in schools.
3 Based on all teachers employed by LEAs.
4 Classes with one teacher.
5 Provisional.