Media Statement
28/10/2008
Most class sizes below recommended level
New school census data has revealed that all public schools have Year 4 to 7 average class sizes below the recommended level.
The 2008 school census data also shows that about 88per cent of public schools have Year 1 to 3 average class sizes below the recommended number.
Department of Education and Training Director General Sharyn O’Neill said509 of the 576 schoolswith Year 1 to 3 students had average class sizes in those years below the recommended 24 students.
“In the majority of the 67 cases where the Year 1 to 3 average class size is over the recommended level, it is only by one or two students and it is generally by agreement between the principal and teaching staff,” she said.
“The data from 574 schools with Year 4 to 7 students is even better with all schools reporting average class sizes in those years below the recommended 32 students.
“In fact in most cases the average Year 4-7 class size is well below the recommended level.”
Ms O’Neill said WA public schools were staffed and resourced based on student enrolments.
“So in the few cases where a class size is significantly above the recommended number, schools are expected to provide additional teaching resources,” she said.
“Schools can choose not to create another class because they believe they can create better learning programs by providing an extra teacher resource to a slightly larger class.”
Ms O’Neill said Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data for 2007 showed the following:
- WA public primary schools had a student-to-teaching staff ratio of 15.4 students to one teacher. This was better than all other states and the Australian average of 17.1 students to one teacher.
- WA public secondary schools had a student-to-teaching staff ratio of 11.7 students to one teacher. This was second best in the nation and better than the Australian average of 12.3 students to one teacher.
Ms O’Neill said the Enterprise Agreement between the Department and the State School Teachers Union included recommended class sizes.
“The Agreement recognises that the make up of students in individual schools might mean that schools need to be flexible and vary from these recommended class sizes,” Ms O’Neill said.
“Enrolment numbers fluctuate during the year with students being enrolled or moving on to other schools.
“Our principals and school staff do a fantastic job in being flexible when making decisions about class sizes to cater for local populations and to accommodate local circumstances.”
“Public schools need this flexibility so parents can be confident that their children will be accommodated in an appropriate class “
Ms O’Neill said the class sizes data was based on point-in-time-information provided by schools as part of a school census in February 2008.
“Schools make adjustments to their programs and classes as the school year unfolds,” she said.
[ENDS]
Media contact: Andy O’Brien 9264 5494