§ Mr. Denis MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of children aged(a) five, (b) six and (c) seven are taught in classes of over 30 in schools in Wansbeck; and what were the comparable 1997 figures. [144287]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe have secured early delivery of our infant class size pledge for the vast majority of infants, including in Wansbeck. In the constituency in September 2000, 2.3 per cent. of five, six and seven-year-olds were in classes of 31 or more. The figure in January 1997 was 36.7 per cent.
The latest infant class size data for September 2000 were recently published in a Statistical First Release "Infant Class Sizes in England 2000" on 1 November, copies of which are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department for Education and Employment statistical website www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics. Figures from this release show that since September 1998, 324,000 five, six and seven-year-olds have benefited from the Government's infant class size initiative. In September 2000, 30,000 children were in classes of 31 or more children, compared to 171,000 in September 1999. This demonstrates that the Government are delivering early their infant class size pledge, which is supported by some £620 million.