Teachers react unfavourably to class size claims

Teachers at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) conference have jeered the English schools minister over his views on class sizes.

Schools supremo Jim Knight was heckled by a small minority of delegates who disagreed with his claims that educating children in classes of up to 38 pupils could become "manageable".

"Class sizes are obviously something we take seriously," he said. "If they are growing to the extent that the delegate talks about then there are some concerns attached to that."

"Teaching assistants and higher level teaching assistants working alongside teachers are very important to ensuring that class sizes of 38 are manageable," Mr Knight added.

But Phil Jacques, of the ATL's executive committee, strongly disagreed with the minister, and commented that such class sizes should not even be considered.

"Class sizes of 38 should not be made to be manageable. They just simply shouldn't exist," he said.

Mr Knight played down his reception as a 'friendly disagreement'.