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Primary 1 class size to be capped Primary 1 class size to be capped
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish government is set to bring in legislation to cap class sizes in primary one at 25 pupils. The Scottish government is to bring in legislation to cap class sizes in primary one at 25 pupils.
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop denied she had gone back on a manifesto promise to deliver smaller classes. Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop denied the plan was a weakening of a manifesto promise to reduce early primary classes sizes to 18.
Two years ago the SNP pledged children starting primary school would be in classes of no more than 18 pupils. She said the 25-pupil limit would provide a "backstop" for local authorities facing legal challenges.
Scottish Labour said adopting a 25 pupil per class policy would prove that the flagship 18-pupil maximum pledge had been "ripped up and thrown away". Scottish Labour said the SNP's 18-pupil policy was being "ripped up and thrown away".
The Tories called the SNP pledge a "cynical exercise in buying votes".
The class sizes pledge is a firm commitment of both Cosla and the Scottish Government Fiona HyslopEducation Secretary
Many local authorities have claimed they do not have enough money, staff and classrooms to deliver what the government wants.Many local authorities have claimed they do not have enough money, staff and classrooms to deliver what the government wants.
They claim they also need a change in the law.
Parents have won legal test cases allowing them to send their children to the school of their choice, even though councils have told them classes were full.Parents have won legal test cases allowing them to send their children to the school of their choice, even though councils have told them classes were full.
The education secretary said the Scottish government would be forging forward with new ways of delivering its class size promise. Ms Hyslop said a class size review would see how the rules could be made "more coherent".
She said new regulations would allow local authorities to tackle the largest classes and "help drive down" P1 classes towards 18. The manifesto will be delivered as we have agreed with local government by making year-on-year progress Fiona HyslopEducation Secretary
Parent choice She said local authorities had changed their mind about the need for legislation to back up the policy.
Ms Hyslop also announced a class size review to see how to make the rules "more coherent". She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What we are doing is providing the legislation to support smaller class sizes. We think local pupils going to local schools should benefit from smaller class sizes."
She said: "The class sizes pledge is a firm commitment of both Cosla and the Scottish government, enshrined in the Concordat. She insisted that good progress was being made towards reducing class sizes, but declined to say when the promise of no more than 18 pupils in the first three years of primary might be met.
"Already we have advanced towards our goal - with pupil-teacher ratios at an all-time low of 13.1, and across Scotland class sizes in primary schools have fallen to an all-time low of 23.2. "We have provided the resources to allow local government to make year-on-year progress in delivering smaller class sizes. The manifesto will be delivered as we have agreed with local government by making year-on-year progress," she said.
"The regulations announced today will put local authorities on a more sound footing when taking decisions regarding placing requests, and in their efforts to balance the rights of parents to choose their child's school and the rights of all pupils to the best possible start in life." However, she also acknowledged that the economic recession was placing pressure on councils.
"Our priority is to ensure a solid foundation in the early years of school for every pupil. The regulations announced today, together with our comprehensive review regulations governing class sizes, will take us a step closer to doing just that and delivering on our commitments." Labour education spokeswoman Rhona Brankin said: "There was no mention of legislation on class sizes in the recent programme for government but the cull of the 18 class size pledge has been on the cards for months.
"It's now thought that the policy will be ripped up and thrown away."
The Scottish Conservatives said the SNP had misled voters with its manifesto promises.
Tory schools spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "It all adds up to one thing - the SNP has misled parents and, as with the pledge to dump student debt, was only interested in conning the electorate.
"Regardless of whether or not this much needed U-turn is carried out, Alex Salmond and Fiona Hyslop should be ashamed of themselves."
The Liberal Democrats said that midway through a parliamentary term, cuts in class sizes should be well under way.