§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of(a) five-year-olds, (b) six-year-olds and (c) seven-year-olds educated in class sizes of 30 or less (i) currently and (ii) in May 1997. [68612]
§ Mr. HainThe January 1998 annual Schools' Census showed the following percentages of pupils in Wales were being educated in classes of 30 or less.
Year Usual age of pupils Percentage Reception 5 74.3 Year 1 6 66.4 Year 2 7 62.5 Other key stage 1 classes of mixed year groups — 74.9 Comparable information is not available for earlier years.
At January 1998, there were 30,734 pupils in key stage 1 classes of over 30 pupils. On the basis of grant approvals for local authorities to employ additional teachers from September 1998, it is estimated that 23,525 fewer pupils are being educated in classes of this size than would have been the case without grant. The 1999 schools' Census will give the actual position.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.
§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate(a) how many schools in Wales have requested additional funding in order to reduce infant class sizes to under 30 pupils in the last 12 months and (b) the number of such requests that were successful. [68730]
§ Mr. HainLocal education authorities bid for 413 schools to receive funding for infant class size reduction in 1998–99. Bids for 302 schools were successful. LEAs have bid for 570 schools to receive Infant Class Size Reduction Grant in 1999–2000. Bids are currently being assessed and LEAs will be advised of the successful schools in March.
In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.