Labour has failed to deliver smaller class sizes.

3.05.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Oct 2005

19% of primary school children are taught in classes of 31 or more in Brighton & Hove, new figures reveal.

Labour has failed to deliver on pledges to reduce class sizes for many of our children. Over 15% of primary school kids in England are still taught in classes of 31 or more. In some areas the figure is much higher with 32% of children in East Sussex taught in classes of 31 or more pupils.

Shockingly some children are even in classes with more than 41 pupils. Manchester tops the league here with 1.6% of its pupils in these extremely large classes.

The Liberal Democrats propose recruiting an extra 21,000 primary school teachers to reduce average classes sizes to 20 at Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds) and 25 at Key Stage 2 (7-11 year olds).

The areas with the greatest percentage of primary school children taught in classes of 31 or more are:

East Sussex 32.0% Bromley 25.6%

Trafford 27.4% Shropshire 25.5%

Derbyshire 26.8% Barnsley 25.0%

Telford and Wrekin 26.0% North Lincolnshire 24.0%

Nottinghamshire 26.0% Darlington 23.9%

Commenting on the figures Edward Davey MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, said:

"It is totally unacceptable that after 8 years of Labour more than half a million primary school children are in classes of over 30.

"These shocking figures show just how badly the government has failed to get the basics right. Some areas in England are suffering with a third of primary school classrooms packed with more than 30 kids at a time. Despite what Ministers claim, parents in those areas know that Labour is failing their children.

"Large class sizes harm standards, effect discipline and are a major barrier to improvement in schools.

"All research in this area shows that for younger children, especially those who struggle in school, smaller classes are vital. Parents who can afford to opt for private education know that - because a main motivation for them has always been smaller class sizes.

"If ministers were really listening to parents they would make smaller class sizes a priority."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

There are currently 584,170 primary school children taught in classes of 31 or above out of 3,851,810 pupils overall this equates to 15.2%

Source: Table 21, SCHOOLS AND PUPILS IN ENGLAND, JANUARY 2005 (FINAL), DfES SFR 42/2005

Smaller class sizes improve learning:

Research by the University of London in 2003 found that reducing class sizes for the very youngest children (5-7 year olds) had the most positive impact on the kids who struggle the most:

The largest class size research project ever conducted in the UK finds that children in smaller classes do better in maths and literacy in their first year of school (the reception year). This is especially the case in literacy for children who started school with low entry scores.

Professor Peter Blatchford, the lead researcher, said: "These findings suggest that smaller classes are important when children enter school - especially for children who have the most ground to make up." University of London's Institute of Education

Parents want smaller class sizes:

A poll conducted on behalf of the Independent Schools Information Service examined why parents opt for fee-paying schools. Among the parents of primary pupils smaller classes the most important incentive for 46%.

MORI poll for Independent Schools Information Service (May 2001)

Teachers want smaller class sizes:

In a Times Educational Supplement readers survey April 2005, participants listed as one of their wishes:

"Reduce class sizes to allow teachers to spend more time with every student"

Liberal Democrat Class Size Pledge at 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).