Pupil overcrowding in local schools

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Schools being taught in classes of 30+ students is unacceptable, says LibDems

Alan Bullion, parliamentary spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham, has revealed that the number of pupils in Hammersmith and Fulham's secondary
schools being taught in unacceptably large classes of 30 or more students has rocketed by 85% since 1997.

In 1997, there were 511 students in Hammersmith & Fulham secondary schools who were being taught in overcrowded classes. This number has almost
doubled to 947 students in 2004. This means that 1 in 7 secondary students in H&F are in overcrowded classes, the second worst level in
London. Across London, the number of pupils in classes of 26 or more has
gone up by 23%.

Alan Bullion, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman, said: "These figures are a shocking indictment of Labour's failure to deliver improvements for children in Hammersmith and Fulham.

"With so many young people crammed into our classrooms, does Labour expect our teachers to teach or act as football referees?

"Instead of focusing on targets that distort educational priorities, the Government should abolish unnecessary tests and red tape in schools and replace them with a pupil record of achievement. As if the size of classes in London wasn't shaming enough for Labour, they still don't even
ensure that every pupil is taught by a properly qualified teacher."

March 6, 2005