2.15
CONFIDENTIAL
As explained earlier, the length of the primary course will
remain at six years. However, it is estimated that about 30% of
children currently spend seven years in primary school by repeating
one year of the course. While it is accepted that under special circumstances,
such as ill health, this cannot be avoided, it is generally considered
educationally undesirable.
It also increases the age range in each class.
Steps are therefore outlined elsewhere in this White Paper to reduce the amount
of repetition which currently takes place, and also to introduce a system of
record cards which will ensure that a child cannot repeat a class on transfer
from one school to another without the knowledge of the receiving school.
child will be permitted to repeat more than one year of the primary school course
without the express permission of the Director of Education.
2.16
It has been decided that in view of the availability of adequate
school places in the public sector the time has come to reduce the maximum
No
class size. As a first step, it is intended that, with effect from the Primary 1
entry of 1983, no class in the public sector should exceed 40, while schools
adopting the activity approach will be permitted to reduce the size of their classes
to 35. The Code of Aid will be amended to reflect these intentions.
2.17
Because uniform standards are desirable the available capacity of
schools in the New Towns makes it impossible to reduce the class size further
at the present time. However, it is anticipated that it will be possible
to make further reductions later subject to the availability of sufficient
classrooms and teachers.
2.18
No child need enrol at a private school since adequate provision
will continue to be made in the public sector. It is not therefore intended
to enforce any change in class size in the private sector. The present legal
maximum class size will therefore remain at 45.
CONFIDENTIAL