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 20 July 2008 18:09 BST

Smaller class sizes at 'crunch times'

Friday, 16 May 2008 08:57
Kids should be taught in smaller classes at reception age and "strategic points of transition", influential review says
Class sizes in Britain should be shrunk at key points of a child's education, an influential review said on Friday.

According to the Primary Review, children should be taught in smaller classes at reception age and other "strategic points of transition", such as moving up on to other schools.

The last of three interim reports from the wide-ranging and independent inquiry claim the benefits of smaller classrooms were most profound among younger pupils.

"There is a clear case for small class sizes in the reception year, but research also shows where resources could be further targeted: that is, on achieving classes smaller than 25 for those children with most ground to make up in literacy," a statement explained.

Responding, a spokeswoman at the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) reiterated the legal maximum limit was 30 children in a class.

She added that the average class size for key stage one was just over 25.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has admitted that the Primary Review findings will "come as a shock".

Its acting general secretary commented: "It has always seemed absurd that policy for smaller classes for younger children should be isolated from class sizes for older children.

"The Primary Review's conclusion that children should experience smaller class sizes as they move up has profound implications for government policy making.

"The falling rolls in some schools really do present an opportunity to reduce class size. The government's target should be 20 by 2020 for all primary classes."End of story


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