Local headteachers say bigger classes here to stay
May 15, 2001 12:00 AM
Local headteachers have told Liberal Democrat candidate, Gareth Hartwell, that the larger classes seen in Hounslow over the last few years are not likely to be reduced. This is a big blow to Labour who put cutting class sizes at the centre of their election plans.
Some schools were reporting class sizes having increased to up to 34-35. (According to official statistics, the pupil teacher ration has risen from 15.8 to 16.9 in Hounslow's secondary schools and from 21.5 to 22.2 in primary schools since the Labour Government took power in 1997.) 75% of the sample expected class sizes to stay the same over the next three years.
Another major area of concern was with building maintenance. Government schemes seem to have done little to improve the perception of most local headteachers as the responses this time were no better from the previous survey Gareth undertook in 1996. 80% of the sample now say that they have insufficient funds for building maintenance with 55% relying on temporary classrooms. (This compares to 71% and 57% in the 1996 survey.)
But one of the biggest shocks for both the local Labour MP and councillors must be with the teachers. Only 1 of the headteachers responding reported an improvement in staff morale with 55% reporting that morale had actually got worse than it was under the previous Tory administration.
Gareth Hartwell, commented,
"This is a big blow for Labour - for years, they blamed the Conservative Government for local school problems but they have done no better. All the evidence suggests that children develop better in smaller classes and in a safe and well-maintained environment. Liberal Democrats would ask everybody to pay an extra 1p on the basic rate of tax so that we can find the money to invest in our schools."
The survey was sent to all headteachers with the Brentford and Isleworth constituency. At the time of going to press, about 30% had replied and these comprise the sample for these statistics.
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