Bigger classes harming pupils’ progress, say 9 in 10 UK teachers

Teaching union calls for cap on class sizes for all key stages as staff warn they cannot meet learning needs of all children

Three out of four teachers in the UK say class sizes are getting bigger, having a negative impact on pupil progress, levels of attainment and behaviour during lessons, according to a survey.

As schools struggle to help pupils catch up amid continuing disruption resulting from the pandemic, more than nine out of 10 (95%) teachers warned that bigger classes were damaging their ability to meet the needs of all pupils.