35,000 children in overcrowded classes

Record numbers of London schoolchildren are being taught in overcrowded classrooms, figures reveal today.

Nearly 35,000 pupils - one in 10 of secondary school pupils in the capital - are learning in classes with 31 or more children.

In some London boroughs the figure is nearly one in five children.

According to the Department for Education's figures, the number of secondary school pupils in class sizes of 31 or more has jumped from 22,096 in 1997 when Labour came to power to 34,333 last year.

Sarah Teather, Lib-Dem spokesman for London, said the children were not getting the education they deserve.

"These figures are a shocking indictment of Labour's failure to deliver improvements for London's children," she said.

The rise in overcrowded classrooms comes despite Labour investing record sums in education. Although it has kept primary classes to below 30, there is no government target for class sizes in secondary schools.

Ms Teather said: "How do we expect teachers to control discipline problems and teach effectively when so many young people are crammed into our classrooms? Children must be placed in environments where they can thrive. With class sizes on the increase, teachers are in danger of becoming more like football referees.

"Labour is simply letting down London's children."

The figures, revealed in a parliamentary answer, show the number of pupils in London's secondary schools being taught in classes of 31 or more has risen by 55 per cent since Labour came to power.

Increases were as much as 386 per cent in Harrow, 351 per cent in Brent and 330 per cent in Tower Hamlets. In Kingston 18 per cent of secondary school pupils are now in classes of 31 or more. The National Union of Teachers spokeswoman said the problem was connected with the difficulty of recruiting teachers in London.

She said education quality was being compromised because the shortage of teachers had coincided with an increase in the numbers going to secondary schools.

"Oversized classes are decidedly important. They reduce the time each child has with the teacher and increase the workload of teachers.

"The difficulty has been the recruitment and retention of teachers in London because of the high cost of living. But across the country in general there is a growing problem of teacher shortages. Such sharp increases do not bode well for children's future education."

The NUT called on the Government to take teachers' pay seriously. "Teacher salaries are low and the cost of living in London is high. Many graduates can work for more money and shorter hours elsewhere," the NUT spokeswoman said.

A DfES spokesman said: "The results speak for themselves. London is the fastest improving region in the country for GCSE results. The top four fastest improving LEAs in the country are in London."

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