The number of primary class sizes with over 25 and 30 pupils per classroom is shockingly high in Fife.
Through a Freedom of Information request I submitted to Fife Council it was shown that local schools have 412 primary classes with other 25 pupils per classroom and 136 primary classes with over 30 children in them in the current academic year.
I have now raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament highlighting increasing class sizes which are one of the major drivers in inequality of education and saying that a reduction in class sizes would help education recovery.
There is a wealth of research showing that reducing class sizes can have positive impacts on our children’s education, particularly more disadvantaged pupils, as well as increasing overall student achievement.
Many private independent schools operate with teacher/pupil ratios between 1:05 to 1:12, yet we have so many kids in state schools with classes over 30. This drives inequality in education. Every child deserves access to the best education possible which is why we need to get class sizes under control.
I encourage parents to speak up on class sizes. It is not right that the ability of parents to pay for education gives some children a better chance to achieve. We need more teachers, more teaching assistants and smaller class sizes if we are to achieve equality for all in education. Given what pupils have been through, we must be more ambitious for education recovery.
COPY OF MOTION BELOW:
Motion Number: S6M-01603
Lodged By: Alex Rowley
Date Lodged: 07/10/2021
Title: School Class Sizes Inequality
Motion Text:
That the Parliament believes that growing class size is one of the major drivers of inequality in education and that a reduction would help with education recovery; notes international research, which suggests that reducing class size can have positive impacts on pupil outcomes when implemented with pupil populations that face socio-economic disadvantage; further notes other studies, which report that smaller class size in primary schools can have a greater positive impact on disadvantaged pupils than on their peers, and lead to overall increases in student achievement; understands that, for 2021-22, Fife Council schools have 412 primary classes with over 25 pupils per classroom and 136 primary classes with over 30; further understands that many private or independent schools operate with teacher/pupil ratios of between 1:05 and 1:12; appreciates the Scottish Government plan for education recovery and welcomes the commitment to increase teacher numbers; understands that the plan has been described as a “missed opportunity” by the general secretary of the EIS who stated that “Overall, however, the plan largely re-states existing work streams and fails to promote a single big initiative such as a reduction in class sizes, which would catalyse an education recovery programme and bring immediate benefits to Scotland’s children and young people. Smaller class sizes, even on a limited basis as a starting point, such as P2 and P3 or S1 and S2, would mean more teacher time per pupil and assist with targeted interventions where the pandemic has impacted disproportionately on children’s lives. As a country, we need to be bolder in our ambitions for our youth”, and believes that class size must be reduced in order to reduce inequality in education.
