Press Release

PRIMARY REVIEW

16 May 2008

Commenting on the last three interim reports from the Primary Review, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;

“For all those who have derided the argument that small class sizes make a positive difference, the Primary Review findings will come as a shock. It has always seemed absurd that policy for smaller classes for younger children should be isolated from class sizes for older children.

“The Primary Review’s conclusion that children should experience smaller class sizes as they move up has profound implications for Government policy making. The falling rolls in some schools really do present an opportunity to reduce class size. The Government’s target should be 20 by 2020 for all primary classes.

“Much of the new build introduced by this Government has focused on secondary schools. It is quite clear from the Primary Review’s evidence that excessive noise, and poor ventilation and lighting, still are common in primary schools. I urge the Government to step up its programme of primary school renovation, to bring them up to the standards of our secondary schools.”