NUT News 22 July 2003

Classes of 80

* The Government's National Agreement, signed by the other teachers' unions in England and Wales, advocated the doubling up of classes.

* Those who signed up to the Agreement then signed up to a national advertisement and school staff room notice saying that: "The Agreement will not result in: (1) double-sized classes; (2) teaching assistants taking over the role of qualified teachers."

* Now, the person appointed by the signatories as director of the team overseeing the introduction of PPA and limits to cover, proposes classes of 80 pupils; as many as four classes in the same age group could be merged to be taught by a single teacher.

* The NASUWT is prepared to accept this principle, objecting only that, "It is hard to see how it would work. It simply won't be a runner in hundreds of secondary schools".

* The NUT didn't sign the Agreement. It couldn't sign up to doubled-up classes, let alone redoubled classes. It will not accept Victorian class sizes in secondary schools or in primary schools.

General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: "It has been six months since the signing ceremony. Week by week the NUT has been proved right not to sign and right to warn teachers of what was intended. The NUT will give full support, if necessary through action, to any NUT member expected to teach merged or amalgamated classes whatever the pretext."