Swelling size of classes ‘is slowing kids’
THREE-quarters of teachers say their class sizes are getting bigger.
And most say it has a negative impact on pupils’ progress and behaviour, according to a new survey.
Research by teachers’ union NASUWT found that 90% of members think behaviour is impacted by crammed classrooms.
And more than twothirds also believe that numbers being too big for their classroom had led to more Covid infections.
PILLS
Meanwhile, at the union’s annual conference in Birmingham, member Owain Morgan-Lee said that many colleagues had been signed off as “longterm sick because they’re popping pills”.
He said the job was “dragging them down” and sapping morale.
A survey of teachers work they work an average 57 hours per week.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “At primary, average class sizes decreased in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20. At secondary school, class sizes remain low with an average of 22 pupils per class in 2020/21 in the system since 2010.”