§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average class size in secondary schools; and what was the average class size in 1997. [146362]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 22 January 2001]The size of the average secondary class in January 1997 was 21.7. The figure in 2000 was 22.0. Secondary classes still have about five fewer pupils on average than primaries. The size of the average secondary class was below 20 in 1989, and rose consistently throughout the nineties. The rate of growth has in fact slowed since 1997 as a result of the additional investment this Government are making.
We are on course to deliver our infant class size pledge. In Wokingham just 4 per cent. of pupils were in classes of 31 plus in September 2000 compared with 25 per cent. in Berkshire, which consisted of Wokingham and five other Local Education Authorities, in January 1998.