Press Release

Voice calls for smaller class sizes in Scotland

29 May 2008

Voice: the union for education professionals has called on the Scottish Government to reduce class sizes.

At its May 2008 meeting, Voice’s Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) agreed the following policy statement.

“Voice (Scotland) supports the aspirations of the Scottish Government to work towards smaller class sizes in Scottish schools.

“In particular, we endorse the target of a maximum of 18 pupils in all P1 – P3 classes.  However, Voice also urges that, once this is established, a further aim should be to extend this maximum year-on-year as these cohorts progress through primary school.

“Similarly, in secondary schools, Voice would like to see the Scottish Government maintain the commitment given by the previous administration to a maximum of 20 pupils in S1 and S2 English and Maths classes, and that this in due course be extended to all years and all subjects (practical subjects already have this restriction).

“Voice (Scotland) recognises that there will be implications for staffing resources and costs, and also for accommodation and school design.  Over the last few years, there has been increased investment in training more teachers, a number of whom are finding difficulty in securing permanent employment after their training year. 

“Drawing on this resource, coupled with the general trend towards falling pupil rolls, there is an opportunity, given the political will, to start reducing class sizes.  This would assist in the raising of attainment by improving a teacher’s contact with individual pupils and would support the Scottish Government’s aim of achieving a world-class standard of education for Scotland’s children.”