Pupil-Teacher Ratios

HC Deb 18 May 1992 vol 208 c16W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the pupil-teacher ratios upon which education policy is based.

Mr. Forth

The allocation of resources, including teachers, is a matter for local management decision. The Government do not, therefore, set policy objectives for pupil-teacher ratios—PTRs. However, when determining its own education policies it takes account of the most recent data on PTRs as reported by schools and local education authorities. The latest PTR is for 1991 at 17.2:1 overall for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools.