§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that information is collected centrally about class sizes in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [48196]
§ Mr. HainClass size is more difficult to measure in secondary schools than in primary schools where teaching groups are generally based on classes as registered. Information is collected centrally which gives the overall average size of teaching groups in secondary schools but no information is available centrally about the number of classes, or pupils in class, by size of class.
Classes as taught in maintained secondary schools, by year group1 January 1997 Year group 7: Number of classes 1,546 Number of pupils 36,534 Average class size2 23.6 Year group 8: Number of classes 1,518 Number of pupils 35,131 Average class size2 23.1 Year group 9: Number of classes 1,544 Number of pupils 34,966 Average class size2 22.6 Year group 10: Number of classes 1,695 Number of pupils 34,892 Average class size2 20.6 Year group 11: Number of classes 1,718 Number of pupils 34,365 Average class size2 20 Year groups 12/13: Number of classes 1,508 Number of pupils 19,952 Average class size2 13.2 All year groups: Number of classes 9,529 Number of pupils 195,840 Average class size2 20.6 1At third period of the timetable on 14 January 1997 2Number of pupils divided by number of classes