§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average class size in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and what were the comparable figures in 1989 to 1994. [41171]
§ Mr. RichardsThe table shows the average class size in Wales for both primary and secondary schools.
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Average class size1 as at: Primary Schools Secondary Schools September 1989 24.8 20.5 September 1990 24.8 21.0 September 1991 25.0 21.5 September 1992 25.0 21.4
Average class size1 as at: Primary Schools Secondary Schools January 19942 25.6 20.1 January 19953 25.8 21.1 1 Average class size is calculated as the number of pupils divided by the number of classes. In the case of primary schools, the number of classes used is the number of registered classes, whereas for secondary schools it is the number in which the pupils were taught in a specified period on the day of the school census. 2 From 1993–94 onwards, class size information has been collected in January not September. 3 Provisional data. Source: Schools Census
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of primary school pupils in Wales taught in classes of over 40 pupils in(a) January 1994 and (b) January 1995, per local authority and if he will make a statement. [41631]
§ Mr. HagueThe annual schools census collects information about class sizes only in respect of the number of classes, not the precise number of pupils in the classes. The information can, however, be used to make broad estimates of the numbers of pupils in classes of a particular size. On the basis of these estimates, there were approximately 500 pupils in ordinary classes of more than 40 pupils in January 1994 and approximately 700 in January 1995. These pupils represented 0.2 per cent. of all pupils in ordinary classes in January 1994 and 0.3 per cent. in January 1995.
No estimates are available for individual local authorities.