Conservatives have created a 'primary place crisis', says Labour
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Hundreds of thousands of primary school children are in ‘supersize’ classes of more than 30 pupils, according to figures from Labour.
The party says that the Conservatives’ promise to reduce class sizes has failed as a record number of children - 102,615 - are being taught in classes of 31 or more pupils, FOI data suggests.
The figures, published on national primary school offer day, are based upon responses from 61 local authorities in England to a Freedom of Information request on the number of pupils in ‘supersize’ classes. Labour has scaled up the number of pupils in large infant classes (28,570) across 4,673 schools to reflect the total number of state-funded primary schools (16,784).
However, it says that the figures could be even higher as the total number of primary schools does not include those that have a ‘primary-phase’, such as all-through schools.
Among Labour's policies are plans to cap classess for five-, six- and seven-year-olds at 30, and prioritise spending for new places in areas of need. This would be paid for by scrapping the Conservatives' free schools programme.
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said, ‘The crisis in school places is yet more evidence that the Tory plan is failing working families. It is thanks to David Cameron and his decision to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money on a few Free Schools in areas where there are no shortages of places that the number of young children in supersize classes has more than tripled since 2010 and parents are finding it harder to get a place for their child at a local school.'
However, the Conservatives have disputed Labour's figures.
A Conservative Party spokesman said, ‘Chaotic Labour can’t even get their facts right. The Conservatives have created over 400,000 school places. There are fewer children in overcrowded primary schools and most importantly, one million more children in good or outstanding schools since 2010.
'Labour cut over 200,000 primary school places – and even ignored official warnings to provide extra school places after a baby boom.'