120 , 000 KIDS CRAMMED IN ‘SUPERSIZED’ PRIMARIES
THE number of giant primary schools has grown eight-fold under the Tories.
In 2010 there were just 16 so-called titan schools with at least 800 pupils.
There are now 129, holding 119,457 children. Of these 22,249 are being taught in schools with more than 1,000 pupils. There were none in 2010. Experts warn bigger schools can put financial efficiency first and be intimidating for pupils.
Labour brand the growth in such huge schools a “disgrace” and have blamed underfunding.
Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “Rather than fix the problem and give schools the funding they need, the Tories continue to invest millions in their grammar schools vanity project.” Alan Smithers, Professor of Education at the University of Buckingham, said: “While larger schools appear to be a good idea in terms of financial management
... it’s not looking at it from a young child’s point of view.
“The child is leaving home, it’s a very big step not to be with mum and the rest of the family.
“If you’re in a small school you can get more personal attention, it’s more family
like, all the teachers will know who you are and be aware of your emotions and difficulties.
“But in a larger school you can get lost among all the children.” He suggested more pupils means more money because of per pupil funding.
But Leon Choueke, head of a large primary in North London, with more than 800 pupils insisted “children’s well-being not cash is at centre of our decision making”. He added that they faced “financial challenges” and are “by no means better off because of our size”.
However Dr Mary Bousted, of the National Education Union, said the “nonsensical” system had to change.
She explained: “Councils cannot open new schools of their own.
“If the government was serious about tackling this problem it would allow councils to open new schools and provide adequate funding and resources for this.”
However the Department for Education insisted class sizes are what matters.
It said: “Despite an increase of over half a million children attending state-funded primary schools in England between 2010 and 2018, the average primary class size has remained stable. We are on track to create one million places nationwide in the decade to 2020.”
In a larger school you can get lost among all the other children PROF ALAN SMITHERS BUCKINGHAM UNIVERSITY
Children’s wellbeing, not cash, is at centre of our decision making LEON CHOUEKE HEAD OF LARGE PRIMARY SCHOOL