Three quarters of teachers say class sizes have gone up, impacting behaviour and learning

Most say class sizes have a negative impact on pupils’ progress and behaviour, according to a new survey.

Three-quarters of teachers say their class sizes are getting bigger.

And most say class sizes have a negative impact on pupils’ progress and behaviour, according to a new survey..

Research by the NASUWT teachers’ union found 90% of teachers believed behaviour was impacted by crammed classrooms.

Just 21% said their classroom was always big enough for the number of pupils they teach.

And more than two thirds also said they believed classes being too big for their classroom had led to more children catching Covid-19.

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said children and their teachers “deserve better.”

He said: “The damaging impact of increased pupil numbers in classes has been further exposed during the pandemic, creating the perfect conditions for the transmission of Covid-19.

“This situation once again exposes the failure of government oversight over the last decade in relation to pupil place planning or in guaranteeing the additional investment needed to increase teacher numbers.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Schools and education staff have gone above and beyond over the course of the pandemic to make sure every child receives the education they deserve.”

They added: “At primary, average class sizes decreased in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 – the majority of primary schools have 27 pupils or less per class. At secondary school class sizes remain low with an average of 22 pupils per class in 2020/21, despite an increase of almost 800,000 pupils in the system since 2010.

“We have also created over 1 million additional school places between May 2010 and May 2021, the largest increase in school capacity for at least two generations.”