Parliament’s approval of regulations that cap P1 class sizes at a maximum of 25 has been welcomed by Education Secretary Michael Russell.
The limit gives councils the legal backing they asked for to help them meet the target of class sizes of 18 or fewer for pupils in P1 to P3.
Mr Russell said:
“Smaller class sizes and the increased teacher contact time they bring can make a real difference to the quality of pupils’ education. That’s why I am absolutely committed to doing what we can, even in these difficult financial circumstances, to work with councils to deliver further progress on class sizes.
“Councils asked us to put a new legal limit in place for P1 class sizes to put them on a more sound footing when considering placing requests from parents. Councils supported these regulations unanimously during our consultation and Parliament has now given its backing, putting in place across Scotland a legal maximum of 25 pupils in P1.
“Today is an important stepping stone towards our target of class sizes of 18 or fewer for all pupils in the first three years of primary.”
