New analysis from Labour shows that the number of pupils in the North West in class sizes over 30 has increased by over 44,000 during a decade of Conservative Government.
This picture is reflected nationally, with Labour analysis of House of Commons data, showing that since 2010 tThe number of secondary pupils in classes of 31 or more has risen from one in ten to almost one in seven pupils and the number of primary pupils in classes of 31 or more has risen from one in nine to one in eight pupils
Across the North West the areas with the highest proportion of children in class sizes over 30 are Bury, Trafford and Cheshire East where one in five children are in oversized classes.
Coinciding with this increase in class sizes the gap in learning between disadvantaged pupils and their better off peers has not narrowed over the last five years of Conservative Government, leaving disadvantaged pupils 18 months behind their peers when taking their GCSEs.
This has worsened during the pandemic with evidence suggesting that children in families that are struggling financially have fallen further behind their peers during national lockdowns.
This week Labour launched a new ‘Bright Future Taskforce’ to tackle this gap in learning and ensure that every child can achieve their potential.
Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary said:
“Over the last decade the Conservatives have made the wrong choices for our children.
“Packing more pupils into classrooms is bad for their learning and less teacher attention could harm their recovery from the pandemic.
“Labour has launched our Bright Future Taskforce to tackle the damage done by these policies, ensuring every child can recover from the pandemic and achieve their potential.”
