SNP vows to cut P1-P3 class sizes
P1-P3 class sizes have got BIGGER
SCHOOL class sizes are now larger in Scotland than they were before the SNP came to power, despite a pledge to reduce them.
In their manifesto 13 years ago, the Nationalists promised to cut class sizes in primary one to three to a maximum of 18 pupils.
But the average size of these classes is 22.9 – up from 22.8 in 2007, figures show. Overall, the average primary class size is 23.1, up from 22.8 in 2007.
Opposition leaders yesterday said that the SNP had ‘let down’ pupils and teachers ‘despite 13 years in power’.
It came as the Scottish Government hailed its own figures showing that the number of full-time equivalent teachers has risen to its highest since 2008, following a pledge to boost numbers during the pandemic.
But the number is 1,700 fewer than when the SNP came to power.
Tory education spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘The SNP are patting themselves on the back today for cutting teacher numbers by thousands since 2007 and only starting to recognise the problem that they created years too late, once our schools had already slid down international league tables.
‘Under the SNP’s leadership, Scotland’s schools came into the pandemic understaffed and unprepared. There are still nowhere near enough teachers to deliver the same high standard of schooling that was possible before the SNP came to power.
‘Pupils and teachers have been let down by the broken promise on class sizes. It’s embarrassing that the SNP will go into the 2021 election having completely failed to deliver a headline pledge from their 2007 manifesto. Schools will always take a back seat to the
SNP’s other priorities.’
Figures show that there are 53,400 teachers employed in early learning and childcare, primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland. This is 1,153 more than the 52,247 employed in 2019.
It follows a pledge by Education Secretary John Swinney to boost teacher numbers during the coronavirus pandemic. The Government had promised to increase teacher numbers by 1,400 but faced calls to make this 2,000.
Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘Despite improvements on last year’s statistics, the SNP is still unable to match the level of teachers provided by the Scottish Labour-led Executive in 2007. Scotland’s pupils have endured a wasted 13 years under the SNP. It’s time for the SNP to take action to reverse the damage it has done to schooling in Scotland.’
Mr Swinney said: ‘I welcome this significant rise in teacher numbers, which is the largest annual increase since equivalent statistics began in 2006.
‘The Covid-19 pandemic led us to take action to help pupils catch up with learning, having been out of school, and we have invested an additional £80million to recruit more than 1,400 additional teachers and 200 support staff this year – all of whom are now in place.’
Mr Swinney also insisted there had been a fall in primary class sizes since 2012 and added: ‘It is a crucial element in our ambition to close the attainment gap between the most and least deprived.’
‘Pupils let down by broken promises’