Over 14% of pupils taught in classes with over 30 children
New figures released by the Department of Education have shown a massive increase in classroom overcrowding over the last seven years. The London average for the proportion of children in classes with over 30 pupils is 8.9% but these were much higher in the local area.
Hammersmith and Fulham was worst of all with 14.2% of children being taught in overcrowded classes, up by 85% since 1997.
Gary Malcolm, parliamentary spokesman for Ealing, Acton & Shepherds Bush Lib Dems said: "These figures show that there has been a failure to deliver improvements for the children in our area. With class sizes on the increase, teachers find teaching more difficult. They cannot give each child the attention they deserve.”
He called on more money to be given directly to schools rather than spent on 'useless inspections.'
Unlike primary schools there is currently no legislation governing class sizes in secondary schools at the moment.
March 2, 2005