Gove urged to increase class size laws

Released 06/01/2012

Council attempts to start campaign requesting the government changes laws that restrict infant class sizes

Currently the maximum size allowed for infant classes is 30 pupils

A London council is considering asking Education Secretary Michael Gove that the government alters the law restricting the maximum size of infant classes in schools.

Sutton council chief executive Niall Bolger has written to every council in London in an attempt to instigate a campaign persuading the government to change the law.

Currently the maximum size allowed for infant classes is 30 pupils, but Bolger believes that this could be increased to 32 without having a detrimental effect upon educational standards.

Bolger said the rise was necessary "in order to enable councils to meet their statutory obligations to educate all their young citizens within their financial envelope".

Bolger believes the law came into effect at a time when there was an abundance of spaces, but that now all London boroughs faced an “unprecedented demand” for additional primary school places and the law should be updated.

"There is a dreadful shortage of primary school places and we can't ignore the situation, especially when our schools, which are some of the best in the country, are attracting so many families," he said.

Government and union response

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers responded to the news, he told The Guardian: "There are more important things than class size in terms of standards. There's evidence emerging to show that class size doesn't have the impact that we thought it did when we campaigned for it under Labour, compared with sheer high quality teaching or children spending more time in lessons. I'm sure it's more pleasant teaching smaller classes and it's more easy to keep under control."

A Department for Education spokesman responded to the news: "No parent would want their child taught in a huge class,” he said. “We're dealing with the impact of soaring birth rates on primary schools, doubling targeted investment at areas facing the greatest pressure on numbers to over £4bn in the next four years.

"We are building free schools in areas where is are place shortages and letting good schools to expand without limits to meet demand from parents."

The government’s new admission code does allow for the size of class sizes to be stretched so that twins may be put in the same class and that children of serviceman are also granted a place.

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