§ 33. Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on class sizes in secondary schools in England since May 1997. [99376]
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on average class sizes in secondary schools. [99370]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe average size of classes in secondary schools remains at less than 22. That is around six below the figure for primary schools. Between January 1998 and January 1999 overall class size figures dropped from 24.9 to 24.8. Over the same period the overall pupil-teacher ratio fell from 18.9 to 18.8. Both these statistics represent the first reductions in 10 years. We have not only stopped the year on year increases seen under the previous Administration, but are reversing the trend towards higher average class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios.