Swindon's Large Class Sizes an Embarrassment

10.19.19am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Oct 2006

Primary school pupils in class

Commenting on school statistics released recently showing that over three and a half thousand primary school pupils in Swindon are being educated in classes with more than 30 children to a teacher Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Cllr Dave Wood, said:

¡§These figures show quite how badly the Government has failed to get the basics right.

¡§It is an utter embarrassment that a decade after Tony Blair personally pledged that education would be his top priority, so many of our children are crammed into such crowded classrooms.

¡§What is especially embarrassing is that of nearly 150 local authorities Swindon is in the top 15 of worst offenders with 22% of pupils in large class sizes. This is significantly higher than the national and regional average.¡¨

Liberal Democrat class size pledge at the last general election:

¡§We will fund 21,000 extra teachers to deliver average class sizes of 20 for 5-7 year olds (infant school, or Key Stage 1) and 25 for 7-11 year olds (junior school or Key Stage 2).¡¨

Key Figures:

"X Over 500,000 primary school pupils are in classes of more than 30

"X The South West is the third worst region with 18.2% of pupils affected (65,540 of 360,870)

"X Swindon is the 15th worst offender of all local authorities with 3,574 out of 16,247 ¡V or 22% - affected.

Related Link:

DfES Statistical First Release: SCHOOLS AND PUPILS IN ENGLAND, JANUARY 2006 (FINAL) published 28th Sep 2006.