Class sizes are rising in England due to government underfunding

Research by the School Cuts coalition of unions (NEU, NAHT, ASCL, UNISON, GMB and Unite) shows that class sizes are rising in the majority of secondary schools as a result of the government’s underfunding of education.

According to the National Education Union (NEU), there is a particular problem in secondary schools because of a shortfall of £500m a year to funding for 11 – 16-year-olds, between 2015/16 and 2019/20, plus the deep cuts to sixth form funding (over 17 per cent per pupil since 2010).

The research shows that sixty-two per cent of secondary schools in England has increased the size of their classes in the last two years (2014/15 to 2016/17).

In York, secondary schools have an average of three more students in every class.

It also reveals that five areas with the largest secondary school classes have all seen an increase in the last two years – Barnsley, Rutland, Thurrock, Newham and Leicester. With the NEU stating that this shows the government is failing in its stated aim to even out the differences in education.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We have repeatedly warned that schools have had to increase class sizes because of funding pressures and here is yet more evidence that this is the case.

“It is the last thing they want to do but they have no other choice because they have to reduce staffing numbers and that inevitably affects the teacher-to-pupil ratio. Larger classes mean less individual support for students, and put more pressure on teachers at a time when we desperately need to reduce workload.”