Education Cuts: Number of Primary School Composite Classes rises sharply

Wendy Alexander released new figures today showing how the number of Composite Classes in Renfrewshire primaries has risen from 13% of all classes to 22%.

Wendy Alexander said,

“For the first time ever the number of composite classes in Renfrewshire has passed 100.    In the last year alone the number of composite classes has soared by 34, from 81 to 115 – the sharpest rise in any recent year.

Four years ago there were 70 composite classes and 475 single year classes in Renfrewshire primaries. Today 115 are composite compared to 400 single teacher classes.
This sharp rise in composite classes worries many parents. They fear it is being driven by cost cutting and not the educational needs of their children. These figures for every school in Renfrewshire bear our parents fears.

Last year only four primaries in Renfrewshire had four or more composite classes – today eight Renfrewshire primaries are in that position.

I want to hear from parents who feel their children’s education is being hit by a composite class. Contact me via my website, www.wendyalexander.co.uk or call my office.

As budget discussions get under way for next year, I want the SNP/Lib Dem coalition to know that many parents I represent want to keep single year classes.

It is total hypocrisy for the SNP to call for smaller class sizes and then make such severe education cuts that schools have to resort to composite teaching.

I have written to the Director of Education highlighting these figures and opposing the cuts which are cutting teacher numbers and hitting class sizes”.

ENDS

Source
Renfrewshire Council Education and Leisure Services 29/10/2008
RENFREWSHIRE PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOTAL

YEAR       Single Classes      Composites    Composites V Total

2003/04              484                  75                     13.4%
2004/05              475                  70                     12.84%
2005/06              450                  83                     15.57%
2006/07              451                  93                     17.09%
2007/08              440                  81                     15.55%
2008/09              400                  115                    22.3%