The union was responding to Government statistics that showed the total number of full-time equivalent teachers had risen to 427,800 - 28,600 more than when Labour came to power in 1997 - and that the number of teaching assistants had more than doubled since 1997. There are now 241,700 support staff, including teaching assistants and administrative staff.
However, NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said the figures 'concealed some disturbing facts' and were 'being spun as a success story'. He added, 'The Government's decision to allow teacher numbers in primary and nursery to decline bodes ill for the future.
'Instead of taking advantage of falling rolls to reduce class sizes in primary, there will be schools facing decreased budgets and redundancies.'
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