Class size restrictions facing issues in county schools

MOST schools in Leicestershire have too many pupils and not enough teachers to keep class sizes to 15 children.

Boris Johnson has confirmed that the phased reopening of schools in England will start this week, with some early years, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils returning to class on June 1.

Meanwhile, some secondary school pupils in Years 10 and 12 will now go back from June 15.

Government guidance on how to ensure safety includes smaller classes, staggered times for breaks, drop-offs and pick-ups, and reducing the use of shared items. However, heads still have no explanation for how they are meant to fit all their primary years into school full-time, while at the same time only allowing 15 children per classroom.

Within our area, the average class size across all schools stands at around 18 pupils per teacher in Leicester and more than 19 for every teacher in the rest of Leicestershire.

In fact, 87% of all schools across Leicestershire as a whole have a pupil/teacher ratio of more than 15 children per class - 93% of primary schools, and 83% of secondary schools.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT said: “What is needed now is local flexibility to determine when it is right for schools to open up to more pupils, informed by evidence of what is happening in their local area.”

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of NASUWT, said: “The Government has to recognise that it has not won the trust and confidence of the teaching profession.

“Notwithstanding the Government’s assertions, the bottom line is that no teacher or child should be expected to go into schools until it can be demonstrated that it is safe for them to do so.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We want children back in schools as soon as possible because being with their teachers and friends is so important for their education and their wellbeing.”