Class sizes

[Th1me]

Hi, does anybody know if there are maximum numbers in classes in secondary schools. The school my teenagers are at are telling us they are combining classes and will have up to 45 per class.

Many thanks.

No maximum. Only in Key Stage 1 is there a maximum of 30. Beyond that classes can be whatever size a school decides.

Unfortunately sizes of 45 are going to become more normal as schools struggle with budgets and recruitment.

Fab thanks.

no limit. Even only suggested limits in practical subjects.

Teaching in school halls with two class sizes worth of kids is common in schools with staffing issues - particularly in year 11 where they’re trying to make sure no kids left behind with absent teachers.

even in a standard science classroom I’ve taught 34 children.

No maximum limits, although there should be risk assessments on safe numbers in science/DT etc.

If you have concerns, I would still raise a complaint and ask what the long term plan is to resolve this. If it's a short term measure due to e.g. staff shortages, then fair enough but if they are planning to do this long term and have no plans to recruit I wouldn't be happy.

Just because there isn't a legal limit doesn't mean it's okay.

No laws about it. The reasons it's happening are either the school can't recruit a decent teacher or it can't afford to recruit new staff because the government agreed to pay rises but they weren't fully funded so schools are still scrabbling about trying to make ends meet. Complain to your mp.

34 13 year-olds is fine if they behave well. I’ve not taught more than that.

DC's school stop gap for missing teachers was often to combine 2 classes - so up to 60 students.