Labour 45,000 more pupils in super-sized classes in a single year

Thursday, 27 June 2019 14:18

The total number of pupils in super-sized classes, those with 31 or more pupils, has increased by nearly 45,000 in a single year, a Labour analysis of official figures shows. The statistics, published today by the Department for Education, reveal that the percentage of pupils in classes of 31 or more pupils has increased in both secondary and primary schools. A Labour analysis of these figures found that: There are 6,234 more primary pupils...Request free trial

The total number of pupils in super-sized classes, those with 31 or more pupils, has increased by nearly 45,000 in a single year, a Labour analysis of official figures shows.

The statistics, published today by the Department for Education, reveal that the percentage of pupils in classes of 31 or more pupils has increased in both secondary and primary schools.

A Labour analysis of these figures found that:

There are 6,234 more primary pupils in classes of 31-35 and 2,301 more in classes of 36+, a total of 8,535
There are 32,914 more secondary pupils in classes of 31-35 and 3,160 more in classes of 36+, a total of 36,074
The total annual increase in school pupils in ‘super-size’ classes is 44,609

This is the fourth year that pupil numbers in super-size classes have risen, an increase of 118,000 since 2015.

Commenting, Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, said:

“Today’s figures expose the consequences of the Tory cuts to our schools, with more and more pupils crammed in to super-sized classes that can only make it harder for them to learn.

“With class sizes soaring, teachers flooding out of the profession and heads reduced to begging parents for donations to buy basic supplies, it is clear that our children are still paying the price for this government’s refusal to invest in education.

“The next Labour government will increase per pupil funding in real terms and cap class sizes at 30 in every primary school in England.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Labour analysis of official figures shows a sharp rise in the number of pupils in super-sized classes in a single year


				Number of pupils in each class size		Change in number of pupils in class of each size	Rise in pupils in super-sized classes
STATE-FUNDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS (1)(2)		2018	2019	2018	2019
Total number of pupils		4,290,660	4,297,570

Percentage of pupils in classes with
	1 - 30 pupils	87.2	87.0	3,740,537	3,738,912	-1,625
	31-35 pupils	11.9	12.0	510,701	516,935	6,234
	36 or more pupils	0.9	1.0	39,422	41,723	2,301	8,535
				0	0
STATE-FUNDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS (1)(3)
Total number of pupils		3,030,930	3,090,500

Percentage of pupils in classes with
	1 - 30 pupils	87.9	87.0	2,664,535	2,688,031	23,496
	31-35 pupils	11.5	12.3	347,712	380,626	32,914
	36 or more pupils	0.6	0.7	18,683	21,843	3,160	36,074
				0

Primary and Secondary	31-35 pupils					39,148
	36 or more pupils					5,461	44,609

Sources

· For the percentage of pupils in different sizes of class, see Department for Education, Schools, pupils, and their characteristics, January 2019, main tables, table 7a
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2019

Labour analysis has then converted this percentage in to the total number of pupils in classes of each size, and found the year on year change.

· Nearly 120,000 more secondary pupils in large classes, Association of School and College Leaders, 27 June 2019:

https://www.ascl.org.uk/news-and-views/news_news-detail.nearly-120-000-more-secondary-pupils-in-large-classes.html