Lib Dems pledge 21,000 extra teachers to give children the best possible start in life

10.18.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 11th Apr 2005

Building on their focus on Education during his election campaign, Don Foster has joined his Liberal Democrat colleagues in pledging an extra 21,000 extra teachers for 5-11 year olds, and more individual teacher pupil time for primary school children.

Commenting, Don Foster, a former teacher himself, said:

"High quality education for our children is essential - for the sake of our society, for the sake of our economy and for the sake of each individual's personal fulfilment.

"Education is the key to so many of the opportunities that our society offers. And it is the best investment that our generation can make on behalf of the next.

"Giving teachers more time to spend with every child will help give children a flying start; so that they can bring out the best in them - so they can inspire our children to learn and to be ambitious.

"The Liberal Democrats will fund 21,000 new primary schools teachers; teachers who can bring out the best in them; inspiring our children to learn and to be ambitious.

"Instead of a cash hand out for 18 year olds from a Child Trust Fund that favours those whose parents can already afford to save for them we will spend the money reducing class sizes, a measure which benefits all children regardless of their parents' wealth or background.

"This will mean lower class sizes for infants - with an average of only 20 pupils per teacher - down from 25. And lower class sizes for juniors - with an average of 25 pupils per teacher - down from 27."

"Smaller class sizes create a better learning environment and help foster better behaviour within the classroom."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1) Liberal Democrat Class Size Pledge:

We will fund 21,000 extra teachers to deliver average class sizes of 20 for 5-7 year olds (infant school, or Key Stage 1) and 25 for 7-11 year olds (junior school or Key Stage 2).

2) Current average size of classes taught by 1 teacher are:

5-7 year olds (Key Stage 1)

Jan 2004 25.7

7-11 year olds (Key stage 2)

Jan 2004 27.2

(Source: Table 9 DfES Statistical First Release: Pupil Characteristics and Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England, April 2004)

3) Cost:

21,000 teachers trained and employed over the course of a parliament.

This would cost £1.165billion over a parliament and would be paid for by scrapping the £1.5billion Child Trust Fund.

4) Smaller class sizes improve learning:

Research by the University of London in 2003 found that reducing class sizes for the very youngest children (5-7 year olds) had the most positive impact on the kids who struggle the most:

The largest class size research project ever conducted in the UK finds that children in smaller classes do better in maths and literacy in their first year of school (the reception year). This is especially the case in literacy for children who started school with low entry scores.

Professor Peter Blatchford, the lead researcher, said: "These findings suggest that smaller classes are important when children enter school - especially for children who have the most ground to make up." University of London's Institute of Education

5) Parents want smaller class sizes:

A poll conducted on behalf of the Independent Schools Information Service examined why parents opt for fee-paying schools. Among the parents of primary pupils smaller classes was the most important incentive for 46%.

MORI poll for Independent Schools Information Service (May 2001)

6) Teachers want smaller class sizes:

In a Times Educational Supplement readers survey April 2005, participants listed as one of their wishes:

"Reduce class sizes to allow teachers to spend more time with every student"

7) Capital investment:

We will match the government's plans for a £9.4billion capital investment in primary schools over the next parliament. Some schools will have room to house extra classes. In LEAs where extra rooms are necessary funds can be directed into refurbishing old classrooms or replacing run down temporary classrooms with new accommodation to house the extra classes.