Schools breaking Welsh Government law on class sizes
SCHOOLS are breaking Welsh Government law on class sizes, official figures show.
Infant classes in 11 schools across Wales have more than 30 pupils, despite the Welsh Government making this unlawful under the Schools Admissions (Infant Class Sizes) Wales Regulations 2013. The rule applies to infant classes only – reception, year one and year two.
The figures were provided by the Assembly’s research service after a request by Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary Llyr Gruffydd.
They also show the number of junior classes with more than 30 pupils has more than quadrupled in the past five years in Wales.
According to the data, the average class size in Wales is now 25.6 pupils compared with 25.1 five years ago – a 2% rise.
But there are what Plaid describes as “critical problems in a growing number of primary schools” where the number of classes with more than 30 pupils in years three to six has gone up from 44 to 181 in the past five years.
Admissions are the responsibility of school governing bodies and local education authorities which are expected to comply with statutory class size limits.
Mr Gruffydd said: “This is a disturbing trend that is affecting more and more pupils in Wales.
“The education secretary is breaking her own government’s legal regulations in a small number of schools and her stated policy of reducing class sizes is just not happening. On the contrary, the average size of primary school classes is increasing, placing greater pressure on teachers.
“This Labour Government is failing to address growing class sizes, it’s breaking its own rules and is putting growing numbers of teachers under greater pressure. Children, their parents and teaching professionals deserve much more than empty promises that are being broken on a daily basis in our schools.
“It’s clear that the dramatic increase in 30+ junior class sizes shows that this government has taken its eye off the ball in delivering key pledges.”
Mr Gruffydd said it was “pointless and dangerous” to announce targets for schools in terms of class sizes without also ensuring those schools had enough funding to pay for the teachers needed.
“Schools are down to the bare bones in terms of reserves and reducing class sizes will mean additional resources. There’s little point in making up regulations without the funding in place to make them happen.
“There is a wider point too that Plaid Cymru has been emphasising for some time that we need to make teaching a more attractive profession to bring in new talent, by ensuring that pay and conditions match other similar professions.
“We also need to ensure we value teaching assistants more for the work they do in the classroom.”
A spokesman for Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: “This is complete hypocrisy from Plaid Cymru who have previously made the case that class sizes are not important and have argued that the Welsh Government shouldn’t be prioritising this issue.
“International evidence tells us that there is a positive connection between smaller class sizes and attainment, particularly for our youngest pupils from poorer backgrounds. That is why, despite opposition from Plaid Cymru, Kirsty Williams has announced an additional £36m specifically to reduce infant class sizes, raise standards and help close the attainment gap between poorer pupils and their peers.”
The Welsh Local Government Association was asked to comment.