MSPs back legal limit on class sizes

The introduction of a legal limit of 25 children in primary one classes was today backed by MSPs.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said it would make a "real difference" to youngsters, after the measure was approved by Holyrood's Education Committee today.

The reduction from the current level of 30 is aimed at putting councils on a more sound footing in the face of court challenges from parents trying to secure a place for their children in popular schools.

Mr Russell said: "Smaller class sizes and the increased teacher contact time they bring can make a real difference to the quality of pupils' education.

"That's why I am absolutely committed to doing what we can, even in these difficult financial circumstances, to work with councils to deliver further progress on class sizes.

"Councils asked us to put a new legal limit in place for P1 class sizes to put them on a more sound footing when considering placing requests from parents."

The current legal maximum in primary one classes of 30 has meant councils trying to impose a limit below this level, usually 25, have lost out in legal challenges from parents if they turn down placing requests.

Mr Russell said this had seen placing requests jump from 2,898 in 2008 to 4,525 the following year - up 56%.

Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith had called for the proposals to be rejected on "strong educational and social grounds".

She said: "Reducing the cap from 30 to 25 is, I think, likely to fly in the face of extended parental choice and in some cases hindering the ability of some parents to find primary one places in the best schools."

But a Tory motion to reject the Government plan was voted down 7-1 by the committee.

Labour's Ken McIntosh said recent legal challenges had made a non-statutory cap of 25 "virtually unenforceable".

He added: "I don't think we want a situation where parents and councils are set against one another and have to battle it out in the courts.

"What we need is as much certainty and as much clarity as possible."

Liberal Democrat Margaret Smith accepted that there can be benefits in parents getting placements requests.

But she added: "If the bottom line is would I rather have an average teacher teaching a class of 30 or 25, then I think the class of 25 is likely to deliver more teacher-pupil contact and benefits educationally."