Labour’s leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned that too many schoolchildren are “crammed into classrooms like sardines”.
During a visit to the Conservative constituency of Cardiff North as part of Labour’s election campaign, he claimed that “seven years of Tory failure and broken promises have left our schools in a terrible state”, with children paying the price.
Corbyn promised to build a schools system for everyone, keeping class sizes down and making sure schools and teachers have appropriate resources.
Statistics support the idea large class sizes are on the rise. Analysis of official figures by Labour found an increase in the number of primary school infants being taught in classes larger than the statutory maximum limit of 30. Figures suggest 40,000 primary pupils are being taught in classes of more than 36 pupils and 16,600 are now in class sizes of 40 and above.
The Conservatives responded by drawing attention to Labour’s record in Wales, where the party administer schools with the Lib Dems. The number of infants in large classes there has risen by 18% in just three years, the party said.
Share your experiences
We want to hear from parents, teachers, students and education experts about class sizes. What are your experiences? Does your school exceed the statutory limit of 30 students? What impact does it have? Or perhaps you are a parent; does this concern you? Share your comments and stories with us in the form below.
