HC Deb 11 January 2001 vol 360 c619W
25. Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on class sizes in secondary schools since May 1997. [143484]

Ms Estelle Morris

The size of the average secondary class is 22, and in January 1997 it was 21.7. Secondary class sizes rose steadily throughout the last decade—in 1990 the figure was 20.3. Secondary headteachers are receiving an average of £50,000 in direct grant to spend as they choose this year. If this were spent on recruiting teachers, the average secondary class size could be reduced by up to 0.8.

We have secured early delivery of our infant class size pledge for the vast majority of infants, including in North Wiltshire. In the constituency in September 2000, over 98 per cent. of infants were in classes of 30 or fewer pupils. The figure in January 1997 was 81 per cent.

28. Mr. Wells

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on class sizes in secondary schools since May 1997. [143487]

Ms Estelle Morris

The size of the average secondary class is 22, and in January 1997 it was 21.7. Secondary class sizes rose steadily throughout the last decade—in 1990 the figure was 20.3. Secondary headteachers are receiving an average of £50,000 in direct grant to spend as they choose this year. If this were spent on recruiting teachers, the average secondary class size could be reduced by up to 0.8.

We are delivering our infant class size pledge for the vast majority of infants, including in Hertford and Stortford. In the constituency in September 2000, nearly 95 per cent. of infants were in classes of 30 or fewer pupils. The figure in January 1997 was 73 per cent.

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