REDUCTIONS IN class size are a considerable benefit to children in primary schools, according to a new report.
The research, published in the American Journal of Education, says small classes in the early years of schooling help all children, irrespective of their academic ability.
The study, from researchers at Michigan State University, challenges the view of Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe who has played down the importance of class size. In his view, the quality of the classroom teacher is the key factor which influences pupil performance.
The new research is the first to examine the effects of class size reductions over a long period of time – and for all levels of pupils from low to high achievers.
It shows that children placed in smaller classes during their early years in primary school have a better chance to succeed later on.
The research is from an associate professor at Michigan, Spyros Konstantopoulos. He is also a member of a key committee for the US department of education which will make recommendations on class size to the US government.
The research says the best way to improve learning outcomes in schools is to provide small classes of between 13 to 17 pupils for several years when children begin school. It is based on a study of more than 11,000 primary school students.
The study found that students from all achievement levels benefited from small classes. But low-achievers benefited the most.
The new study has been welcomed by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) which said it confirmed findings in other less comprehensive reports.
Class size has been the priority issue for the INTO in recent years. This year’s Budget decided to leave class size unchanged but only after a vigorous lobby by the teacher unions and the Green Party during negotiations on the revised programme for government.
In all, over 92,000 Irish schoolchildren are in classes of 30 plus, making Irish classrooms the second most overcrowded in the EU.
Incoming INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said for years teachers have campaigned for smaller classes when children are younger.
“This research proves beyond doubt that it pays long-term dividends for all children but especially low achieving pupils.”
But she warned many Irish classes at the lower end of primary school are light years away from the kind of small classes envisaged in the report.
The success of the Green Party in helping to retain class size at current levels came only months after the McCarthy report backed significant increases in class size.