Figures released last weekshow that 200,000 fewer primary pupils are in classes over 30 than last year and that there has also been a rise in the number of adults working in nursery classes in primary schools.
Education and employment secretary David Blunkett hailed the figures as further evidence of progress in reaching the Government's target for infant classes by September. He said the figures also indicated big increases in teacher numbers and support staff in school over the last year.
The figures for January 2001 show the proportion of children in infant classes over 30 has fallen from 29 per cent in January 1997 and 1998 and 11 per cent in January 2000 to two per cent in 2001. The overall pupil:adult ratio in primary schools has improved from 17.9 in 1997 and 16.8 in 2000 to 15.7 in 2001, and was attributed to the greater deployment of classroom assistants for support.
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