More than half a million pupils are now crammed into supersize classrooms

Labour
today publishes analysis of overcrowding in English primary schools with more
than half a million pupils being taught in super-size classes. It reveals:

●      542,679 children are now in
super-size classes in primary school, as class-sizes continue to rise

●      39,000 primary pupils are in
classes of over 36 pupils and 16,571 are now in class sizes of at least 40

●      The mounting pressure on school
places is now starting to hit secondary schools, with figures showing an
increase in the number of pupils in very large classes in the last year

●      The South East and North West are
the two worst hit areas with latest figures showing over 90,000 primary school
pupils in classes over 30

●      The number of infant school
children (between the age of 5 and 7 years) in classes over 30 has almost
trebled since 2010

Commenting
on the figures, Shadow Schools Minister, Mike Kane, said:

“These
figures expose seven years of Tory failure in our schools. The number of pupils
being taught in super-sized classes is skyrocketing while schools face the
first real terms cuts to their budgets in a generation.

“This
situation is unsustainable. If the Tories wanted to give every child the
education they deserve they would ensure that children were not crammed into
super-sized classes.

“A Labour
Government would ensure that schools are built where they are needed, and cap
class sizes at 30 for all primary school pupils.”