Three-quarters of teachers say class sizes have increased, affecting behavior and learning

Most say class size has a negative impact on student progress and behavior, according to a new survey.

Three quarters of teachers say their classes are getting bigger.

And most say class size is having a negative impact on student progress and behavior, according to a new survey.

Research by the teachers’ union NASUWT found that 90% of teachers believed behavior was affected by crowded classrooms.

Only 21% said their classroom has always been large enough for the number of students they teach.

And more than two-thirds also said they believe classes that are too big for their classroom have resulted in more children catching Covid-19.

dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT secretary general, said children and their teachers “deserve better.”

He said: “The harmful effects of increased student numbers in classes have been further revealed during the pandemic, creating the perfect conditions for Covid-19 transmission.

“This situation demonstrates once again the failure of government oversight over the past decade to plan student placements or ensure the additional investment needed to increase teacher enrollment.”

A spokesman for the Department of Education said: “Schools and educational staff have done what they can throughout the pandemic to ensure every child gets the education they deserve.”

They added: “In primary school, the average class size has decreased in 2020/21 compared to 2019/20 – the majority of primary schools have 27 students or fewer per class. At secondary schools, class sizes remain small, averaging 22 students per class in 2020/21, despite an increase of nearly 800,000 students in the system since 2010.

“We also added over 1 million additional school places between May 2010 and May 2021, the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations.”