We’ve seen the benefits smaller class sizes bring | Letters

2026-02-09 - 17:15

Readers respond to an editorial about how smaller classes lead to better educational outcomes Re your editorial (The Guardian view on inclusive schools: ministers should recognise that class size matters, 3 February), after 25 years of teaching large primary classes, 2020-21 brought a revelation. During the spring 2021 lockdown, my class was reduced to about 18 children, who were either the children of key workers or had special educational needs and disabilities (Send). For the first time ever, I could sit with an individual child for five whole minutes to resolve a maths difficulty, or have an in-depth reading discussion. As a class we did science investigations we could normally only dream of, due to having enough space and resources. Send children grew the confidence to give opinions or ask for help. Every child lucky enough to be in school truly fulfilled their potential in a way that could never normally happen. It was a vision of what education could be. However, March quickly arrived and the children were back to having no elbow room to write properly, and sharing vital resources between six. Continue reading...