§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what average class sizes were in(a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne for (i) secondary and (ii) primary schools, in May 1997 and on the most recent date for which figures are available. [153775]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe available data are shown in the following table.
Average class size in maintained primary and secondary schools in East Sussex local education authority and Eastbourne parliamentary constituency 1998 2000 East Sussex local education authority Maintained primary 28.3 28.2 Maintained primary key stage 1 27.3 26.1 Maintained secondary 21.4 22.1 Eastbourne parliamentary constituency Maintained primary 29.9 29.8 Maintained primary key stage 1 29.2 27.0 Maintained secondary 23.4 24.3 January 2000 saw a fall in the size of the average junior class in England; and a continuing fall in the size of the average primary class, after rising for a decade. The size of the average secondary class nationally, at 22, is still five below the average primary class. In 2001–02 secondary headteachers will receive an average of £70,000 and primary headteachers £24,000 in direct grant to spend as they choose, including on reducing class sizes if that is their priority.
By September 2000 there were only 316 infants in classes over 30 in East Sussex compared to 6,433 in January 1998. East Sussex has benefited from over £5 million in grant to enable it to reduce infant class sizes to this extent. In Eastbourne there were 33 infants in classes over 30 in September 2000 compared to 1,637 in January 1998.