Education: 'The wheels are coming off the SNP's policy'

Published on Thursday 28 May 2009 09:42

LIKE an Orwellian mantra, it has become accepted wisdom that "small school classes good, large classes bad".

It's just common sense, isn't it? The fewer pupils, the more attention teachers can give individuals, and the greater the chance of them keeping control. Most parents would instinctively agree – and it was this instinct the SNP played to in its 2007 manifesto pledge to reduce average class sizes.

On winning power, it told local authorities to work towards a target of 18 as the maximum number of pupils in P1 to P3. The government was right to target the earliest years of school. Teaching young kids the basics sets them up for life and cuts the cost of remedial teaching in later years. But it is clear that the wheels are now coming off the SNP's policy.

Earlier this year the News revealed that Edinburgh needed 23 million to recruit 200 more teachers and build new classrooms if the target was to be met. That was before the council admitted it faced a 92m budget black hole by 2012.

In Edinburgh and East Lothian the numbers of classes of 18 or less went up only marginally in 2008. Even in the best performing local council, West Lothian, only one pupil in four was in a class that met the SNP's target.

This is deeply embarrassing for the government, but should parents be worried? Probably not. Despite the mantra, research suggests the educational benefits of cutting classes end when they reach about 25 pupils.

Pupils' attainment is much more likely to be boosted by spending money on improving the fabric of the school and their access to books and other teaching resources. The level of support at home is also key.

This is the approach being taken in East Renfrewshire, where education chiefs say they won't implement the targets. This council, as it happens, has the best exam results in Scotland. There are other social and educational reasons for that, but Lothian schools – and the Scottish Government – might well learn from its example.

Well done to all

THE response to our story yesterday about the vandalism of the Phoenix Club has been inspiring. First, local people pitched in to clean up the mess

Now, as we report today, Cash for Kids and Wannaburger have stepped in to make donations to help the playgroup get back up and running at the community centre. Well done to all involved in turning round the fortunes of the club in just 24 hours.