HC Deb 25 October 1994 vol 248 c526W
Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the average class sizes in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and what were the corresponding figures five, 10 and 15 years ago.

Mr. Robin Squire

The average sizes of single teacher classes in maintained primary and secondary schools in England in 1979, 1984, 1989, and 1994—provisional—are shown in the table.

Average sizes of single teacher classes in maintained primary and

secondary schools in England in 1979, 1984, 1989 and 1994

(provisional) Position in January each year
Primary 1Secondary
1979 25.9 *
1984 24.7 20.6
1989 25.7 20.1
1994 (prov) 26.9 21.4
1 excludes Sixth Form Colleges which ceased to be classified as

schools from 1 April 1993
* data for secondary schools excluding Sixth Form Colleges is not

available.