SCHOOLS across the region have been reprimanded for breaking the law by leaving single teachers in charge of classes of more than 30 pupils.
Government rules dictate that pupils aged between five and seven should be taught in classes of 30 or under so they can get individual support “in those early vital years.”
Agreed exceptions include schools having to take in extra pupils due to successful parent appeals over places.
But last night it emerged the Government has asked local authorities to intervene at Merseyside and Cheshire schools who had broken the rules.
Figures reveal that, as of January this year, a dozen classes at schools in Wirral, Halton, Cheshire, and Sefton had exceeded the expected quota.
Schools have a year to address the problem or Schools Secretary Ed Balls may formally step in to ensure it is done.
But a Department for Children Schools and Families spokesman said the majority of the 48 guilty North West schools had now resolved the problem.
And overall average class sizes are mostly below the UK average having fallen in most areas of Merseyside and Cheshire since last year.
Those remaining upbeat about the situation include Cllr Peter Dowd, cabinet member for education in Sefton, which has three primary schools on the “unlawful” list.
But its average class size has fallen at both primary and secondary schools which stand at 25.5 and 20.6 respectively – compared to the national averages of 26.2 and 20.6.
Cllr Dowd said: “We have over 80 primary schools and this relates to just three classes so it is worth putting into perspective.
“Those who are classed as unlawful will not have exceeded the quota in defiance but not realising they were acting outside of the rules.
“It is likely they have taken on a pupil during the year in the belief that others will be leaving.”
He added: “In the main, I believe the less pupils per class the better and we are achieving this. With falling rolls more schools will have the opportunity to do this.”
The Government stress there are now 41,000 more teachers and 122,600 more teaching assistants than in 1997 and 98% of infant classes are under the statutory limit. But the National Union of Teachers (NUT) is pushing for all classes to be 20 or less by 2020 believing anything larger hampers attainment and the ability to teach.
And Avis Gilmore, its North West secretary said although teaching assistants helped they were “not substitutes for teachers” and larger classes created extra marking and assessment for a teacher.
Peter Price, head at St Christopher’s in Speke, and National Primary Headteachers vice-chairman, said: “There needs to be increased funding and a better funding formula as a class of 27 to 28 will fund a teacher’s salary but not enough for two, meaning they cannot split the classes.”
