But Ealing fares better than neighbouring London boroughs
New figures released by the Department of Education have shown an increase in classroom overcrowding over the last seven years. The London average for the proportion of children in classes with over 30 pupils is 8.9%.
In 1997 there were 894 pupils in Ealing who were being taught in overcrowded classes. This number has increased to 1148 pupils in 2004. This is a 28% increase, representing 8.6% of pupils which was below the London average and considerably lower than neighbouring boroughs. Hammersmith and Fulham was worst of all with 14.2% of children being taught in overcrowded classes, up by 85% since 1997. Hounslow's schools are the third most overcrowded in London after Hammersmith & Fulham and Kingston with 14% of pupils in classes number over 30 children.
Gary Malcolm, parliamentary spokesman for Ealing, Acton & Shepherds Bush Lib Dems said: "These figures show that there has been a failure to deliver improvements for the children in our area. With class sizes on the increase, teachers find teaching more difficult. They cannot give each child the attention they deserve.”
Unlike primary schools there is currently no legislation governing class sizes in secondary schools.
March 7, 2005