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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Call for class size 'flexibility' | Call for class size 'flexibility' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Leading figures in Scottish education have called for changes to the Scottish government's policy of 18 to a class in early primary. | Leading figures in Scottish education have called for changes to the Scottish government's policy of 18 to a class in early primary. |
| The Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) wants schools to aim for an "average" teacher-to-pupil ratio of 18. | The Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) wants schools to aim for an "average" teacher-to-pupil ratio of 18. |
| ADES, whose members oversee the schools system in each council area, said the move would allow more "flexibility". | ADES, whose members oversee the schools system in each council area, said the move would allow more "flexibility". |
| The Scottish government has struggled to meet its class size pledge. | The Scottish government has struggled to meet its class size pledge. |
| Reducing the number of pupils to a maximum of 18 in the first three years of primary school was an SNP manifesto promise before it formed the Scottish government at the 2007 Holyrood election. | Reducing the number of pupils to a maximum of 18 in the first three years of primary school was an SNP manifesto promise before it formed the Scottish government at the 2007 Holyrood election. |
| Pose problems | Pose problems |
| Before Christmas, Education Secretary Mike Russell acknowledged the challenges facing local councils in cutting class sizes. | |
| He said that because of the recession councils could aim to ensure 20% rather than 100% of children in early primary were in classes of no more than 18. | He said that because of the recession councils could aim to ensure 20% rather than 100% of children in early primary were in classes of no more than 18. |
| Mr Russell has said he believes firmly in a ceiling of 18, but that he is open to discussion. | |
| Councils are considering the proposal but even reaching the scaled down target may pose problems. | Councils are considering the proposal but even reaching the scaled down target may pose problems. |
| Over the past two years the number of classes capped at 18 pupils has risen by just over 1% to 13%. | Over the past two years the number of classes capped at 18 pupils has risen by just over 1% to 13%. |
| John Stodter, the general secretary of ADES, said class size targets were not a good measure of success in primary schools because children often worked in small groups for learning numbers and language but then joined bigger groups for wider discussions. | John Stodter, the general secretary of ADES, said class size targets were not a good measure of success in primary schools because children often worked in small groups for learning numbers and language but then joined bigger groups for wider discussions. |
| The question should not be 'how many children are there?'. It should be 'what support does my youngster get?' John StodterACDES | The question should not be 'how many children are there?'. It should be 'what support does my youngster get?' John StodterACDES |
| He said they would also be in smaller groups for specialist lessons such as art and music. | He said they would also be in smaller groups for specialist lessons such as art and music. |
| "The arrangements are very flexible," he said. | "The arrangements are very flexible," he said. |
| "The important thing is that there is a rich variety of experiences for youngsters and there is a whole number of teachers and other staff that actually provide that." | "The important thing is that there is a rich variety of experiences for youngsters and there is a whole number of teachers and other staff that actually provide that." |
| He added: "Children do not just sit in a class of 18 and it is important that head teachers have flexibility in deploying all the resources they have to meet the needs of children. | He added: "Children do not just sit in a class of 18 and it is important that head teachers have flexibility in deploying all the resources they have to meet the needs of children. |
| "The question should not be 'how many children are there?'. It should be 'what support does my youngster get?'." | "The question should not be 'how many children are there?'. It should be 'what support does my youngster get?'." |
| Mr Stodter said smaller class sizes were good but it was a very expensive way of trying to improve education because it had implications for the number of people employed and the space available in schools. | Mr Stodter said smaller class sizes were good but it was a very expensive way of trying to improve education because it had implications for the number of people employed and the space available in schools. |
| He called for schools to be judged on the quality of education and not class sizes. | He called for schools to be judged on the quality of education and not class sizes. |