South Wales Evening Post - 22 August 2006
Class sizes in Swansea primary schools could swell to more than 30 pupils unless head teachers can find more money, education chiefs have warned. The Assembly has said that there should be no more than 30 pupils per teacher in the five to 11 age range.
But Swansea Council has admitted schools will miss those targets in four years' time unless they can find savings elsewhere in their budgets.
The figures are based on the projected amount of cash head teachers will receive from Swansea Council in the next four years.
Brian Roles, the council's head of service for education resources and planning, who has compiled the information, said: "It was improving, but now it is getting worse in terms of funding.
"We have got to a position over time where we are reaching the 30 limit.
"Whereas in the past we can say we provided sufficient funds to allow key stage one and two classes to be covered, I'm worried that that will not be the case in the future."
The figures are an indication of how much cash will be available to schools if present funding trends continue.
The figures show how the ratios are likely to change, although each school would decide exactly how to spend the cash it was allocated.
Anna Brychan, director of the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru, said yesterday schools were already feeling the pinch.
"There are lot of budget pressures on primary schools at the moment," she added."We do know that our members are feeling a great deal of financial pressure.
"The money filters down to schools from the Assembly and schools have certain things they have to do. When that money is gone it is gone."
Swansea Labour group's education spokesman John Miles said the situation showed a worrying trend.
"The reason why the pupil/teacher ratio is going up is because the funding from the local authority is insufficient to meet the number of teachers that are needed," said Councillor Miles.
"It shows that education is not a priority.
"What has to happen is that schools need to get the money.
"The authority has to show that education is important."
Cabinet member for education Mike Day admitted that the council would have to ensure funding was available to schools.
He said: "The starting point is that the council is already funding education above Assembly recommendations.
"It is right that these projections have been highlighted, but it shows the need for extra funding from the Assembly
."As a council we need to face up to the challenges, so that we do not end up in this position.
"It has to be remembered that these are projections and we are hoping funding will be made available.
"We have no intention of allowing schools to go over the 30 pupils per teacher guidelines."
