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Smaller class petition submitted Union backs class size petition
(1 day later)
A petition calling for smaller class sizes is to be handed to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. A petition calling for smaller class sizes is to be handed to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament next week.
The EIS teaching union has gathered almost 80,000 signatures making it the second largest petition submitted at Holyrood. The EIS teaching union has gathered almost 80,000 signatures for the petition - the second largest to be submitted to Holyrood.
Research suggests that very young children or those from disadvantaged backgrounds do better in small classes.Research suggests that very young children or those from disadvantaged backgrounds do better in small classes.
But some experts have questioned whether reductions would be the best use of money earmarked for schools.But some experts have questioned whether reductions would be the best use of money earmarked for schools.
Keir Bloomer, the former leader of Scotland's directors of education, said it was an expensive policy whose value was "in dispute".
He said: "Parents imagine that a reduction in class sizes will automatically mean more individual attention for their child whereas it does not necessarily mean that at all.
"It certainly creates an opportunity to give more individual attention but unless teachers actually change their methods then it will not actually have that result."
Much research from around the world suggests that children do better in smaller classes if they are very young or come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We think we cannot live with the class sizes that were fixed in the last half of the last century Ronnie SmithEIS union
But the Scottish Council for Research in Education said there was no body of study consistently indicating that they make a difference to the majority of children.
They said it was a "prohibitively expensive policy".
However, Ronnie Smith of the EIS teaching union said it was worth the cost.
He said: "It is not just about exam results.
"It is about behaviour. It is about learning to socialise with each other. It is about the whole environment in the classroom.
"We think we cannot live with the class sizes that were fixed in the last half of the last century."
Rhona Brankin, Labour's education spokeswoman, said that class sizes were "only part of the problem".
She said the Scottish Government should be wary of making "populist promises", when the factors that influence the quality of education were more complex.
'Massive promise'
She told Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that recent research had shown that other issues - such as the quality of teaching - were more important in improving educational achievement.
"The problem for this government is that they've made a massive promise to reduce class sizes to 18 in primary one to three, and they're simply not putting the finances behind it," she said.
"What we're saying is that while class sizes have a role to play, it's nothing like enough.
"If the SNP don't change what happens in classrooms, as well as looking at class sizes, they're going to be letting Scottish parents down."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We welcome the support from the EIS on the need for smaller class sizes.
"We are completely committed to reducing class sizes - starting in the earliest years where it can make the biggest difference."
She said the government had already taken action to reduce class sizes in the first three years of primary school by employing 300 extra teachers for this school year, with another 250 in training.
"We have provided capital funding of £40m for school buildings to enable councils to plan investment," she added.