HC Deb 02 March 2000 vol 345 cc395-7W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the relationship between(a) class sizes in the years when (i) Key Stage assessment (ii) GCSEs, (iii) A-levels, and (iv) equivalent vocational training are taken and (b) pupil performance as measured at each of those stages; and if he will make a statement. [112434]

Average size of classes taught by one teacher in Maintained Primary Schools by Key Stage in Hereford Parliamentary constituency and in England: 1996–1999
Hereford Parliamentary constituency England
Key stage 1 Key stage 2 Overall primary1 Key stage 1 Key stage 2 Overall primary1
1999 24.4 27.4 25.8 26.5 28.4 27.4
1998 25.2 27.4 26.4 27.1 28.3 27.7
1997 24.7 27.0 26.2 26.9 28.1 27.5
1996 24.7 26.2 25.4 26.8 27.9 27.3
1 Includes middle schools

Note:

position at January each year

Ms Estelle Morris

The evidence, including that from Ofsted, indicates that class size is most important at Key Stage 1. That is why we have pledged to reduce the size of infant classes. The pledge will ensure that all children benefit from infant classes of 30 or below, and will help to give young pupils the important start they need.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the size of classes was in(a) Hereford and (b) nationwide, in each of the last four academic years, leading up to (i) each Key Stage assessment, (ii) GCSEs, (iii) A-levels and (iv) vocational courses equivalent to A-levels; and if he will make a statement. [112437]

Ms Estelle Morris

Information on class sizes is not available in the form requested. The available information on class sizes from January 1996 to 1999 is shown in the table. A class size count for January 2000 is currently being undertaken and national estimates are expected to be published in a Statistical First Release in April.

The most recent count of infant classes was carried out in September 1999. Figures derived from this count show that the average size of infant classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in the Hereford Parliamentary constituency was 23.7 pupils per class. The Government have pledged to limit to 30 the size of infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds by September 2001 at the latest. We are well on course to deliver that pledge.

Average size of classes taught by one teacher in Maintained Secondary Schools by age group1 in Hereford Parliamentary constituency and in England: 1996–1999
Hereford Parliamentary constituency England
Aged under 14 Aged 14 and 15 Aged 16 or older Overall secondary2 Aged under 14 Aged 14 and 15 Aged 16 or older Overall secondary2
1999 24.7 22.3 13.8 23.4 25.1 21.7 10.5 21.9
1998 24.5 20.3 8.3 22.0 24.9 21.6 10.7 21.7
1997 24.4 20.0 8.3 21.8 24.7 21.6 10.8 21.7
1996 25.2 20.9 10.1 22.7 23.5 21.5 10.6 21.7
1 Ages at the start of the academic year (August 31)
2 Includes middle schools

Notes:

Position at January each year